The Colors in Our Blood

by LostLoveLetters

When a blood bond accidentally forms between Kaname and Zero, things...are different. But with war hawks for hunters, power-hungry foes for council members, and a darkness that threatens everyone and everything, Kaname and Zero increasingly find strength and trust in each other. Perhaps, everything happens for a reason because the colors that run in my blood run in yours.

5. Sometimes Fridays feel like Mondays

A/N: So I had this chapter lying around for the past couple weeks. At first, I was like ooh, let's try to publish a chapter around Valentine's Day. But, between school and well...school, I couldn't quite finish it. And so I thought, hey! I could just publish it this Friday then. It would fit so much better with the title. But ah, I had a morning midterm and then an evening midterm yesterday and I just completely collapsed.

(Sighs) So yup. Here you go guys. The chapter that you have all been waiting for and hopefully aren't disappointed by. (Because I may have gone a little crazy here and well... I blame stress and sleep deprivation.)

Enjoy! ^^

---

Chapter 5: Sometimes Fridays feel like Mondays and Everyone's Sanity is Questionable

Yagari sighs. A cool breeze rustles the dry leaves, and they scrape against the cobblestone pathway. He flicks the ash away before he brings up the cigarette up again to his lips. He takes a short puff before slowly exhaling out again. The white gray plume of smoke rises up and seemingly disappears up in the steel gray sky.

It looks like it might rain soon.

He sighs again. The things he spend his Fridays doing…

Kaito leans back against the brick wall besides him. He comments lazily, "Smoking's not allowed on campus. You're killing your lungs, you kno- Hey!"

Yagari pulls his hand back and grumbles, "I already heard that more than enough this week. You're not old enough to lecture me."

Kaito rubs his head and shots him a dirty glare. He mutters, "Fine, fine. Go ahead. It's your health, not mine. Ruin it all you want."

Yagari snorts in an equally dry voice. "And yet you're still complaining." He breathes out the smoke before drawling, "You're already what? Twenty? And yet you're still a little shit as always. I'm starting to see why you can't get a girlfriend. Keep this up and you'll die an old maid, Kaito."

At that, Kaito finally frowns and glares back at him, "I'm twenty two! And the term is bachelor. Don't mess up my gender. Are you finally losing your other eye, old man?" He promptly steps away when Yagari lifts an arm to half-heartedly swat at him. "And what the hell does my relationship status have to do with anything?"

Yagari glances at him for a moment before taking a long, satisfying drag of the cigarette and not so accidentally directing it in Kaito's direction.

Kaito mutters a string of curses under his breath as he waves an irritated hand in the air to get rid of the smoke.

Yagari really should have better things to do on Friday than wait around for a more than suspicious president for a less than auspicious meeting. He ignores Kaito's outburst and comments idly, "Well, it's not like you can think about this anymore. It wouldn't be proper for you as a teacher anyways."

Kaito stops at that, hazel eyes already narrowing in wariness. He asks slowly, "…What do you mean by teacher?"

Yagari smirks and deliberately says loftily, "Oh? Didn't I tell you? Congratulations. You're the new art teacher."

Kaito stills, expression completely blank before the entirety of the statement registers. He immediately scowls and responds vexed, "What do you mean by art teacher? How could you forget to tell me something like this, huh? It's Friday. Oi, when were you planning to tell me? On Monday, right before I start?"

He glances at Yagari before saying dryly, "Sensei, I know you're getting old. But if you're already suffering short term memory, do us all a favor and retire."

Yagari glares at him, irritated. "I'm starting to get tired of all your commentary on my age. Do I look like I'm going senile anytime soon, idiot?"

"Appearances can be deceiving," Kaito retorts before his eyebrows furrow and he complains, voice snarky and sarcastic. "How could you tell Cross that I would be the art teacher? I know shit about art. What the hell would I teach them? The intricacies of folding a paper airplane? How to make stunning sculptures out of play-doh?"

Yagari shrugs, completely unsympathetic. It's not like he knows anything about ethics either. And while Cross – the completely irritating bastard - did have other positions available, they were even less appealing.

Like home economics, for example. He's not even going to consider anything that has to do with wearing an apron.

And the whole guidance counselor position on the other hand was actually open, but kids do go in for counseling frequently during the week.

…Which considering that the academy is run by a lunatic is completely understandable, but like hell he has the patience to listen to kids whine about their problems all day.

There isn't enough caffeine in the world for him to endure that.

Yagari idly flicks the ash off the cigarette and remarks, "Tough luck." He sucks in another breath of smoke before continuing, "Just bullshit your way through. Isn't that what you always do? This should be easy for you."

Kaito frowns. "Very funny. Tell me again, why the hell are you teaching ethics out of all things? Are you going to teach by reverse example?"

Yagari doesn't even look at him as he neatly kicks Kaito for that comment.

"Ow! What the fuck! How the hell are you going to be a teacher, huh? Maybe you don't know this, but corporal punishment has long been banned in schools." Kaito bites out as he rubs his shin smarting from the hit. He grumbles, "I'm starting to feel sorry for your students."

Yagari only hums, eyes watching the smoke swirl in the air, and comments, "You're still alive, so that must mean my teaching technique is fine."

"How fortunate am I to have a sensei like you who evaluates himself on whether his students are still breathing. Tell me, when you do roll call, will you be counting the number of corpses versus the number alive?" Kaito deadpans before continuing more exasperatedly, "Seriously. What the hell would I be doing teaching an art class?"

"Exactly what you just said. Teaching art, idiot."

"Thank you for that shitty explanation. Have I ever mentioned what a perceptive teacher you are?"

"Because if so, I take it back," He adds.

"It's part of our assignment. So man up and stop whining about it." Yagari says dryly.

Kaito sighs and leans back against the brick wall again. "Fine." After a moment, he asks, "So? What's the big deal with the new president? Why am I spending my Friday night rolling out the welcome mat for him?"

Yagari raises an eyebrow. "You wouldn't have plans on Friday regardless."

Kaito drawls, "Sensei, please don't lump me in with you. Unlike you, I have a fully functional social life."

Yagari shrugs and comments, "Self-denial isn't a healthy habit, Kaito."

Kaito glares at him and deliberately emphasizes, "Seeing as how we're both here then, why is the president so hellbent on meeting Cross already?"

"Don't ask questions you already know the answer to."

Kaito smirks then, amused. "You really don't like him."

Yagari flicks the ashes from the cigarette again and comments, "You're the one who's saying that aloud." He nods and gazes forward. "Here they come."

Kaito straightens, eyes alert now.

Sure enough, two individuals are walking up the cobblestone path towards the main entrance. Kaito's gaze slides over them. Yagari has already met the president, but he hasn't.

The man on the right is older. Kaito guesses that the man is probably in his late forties or early fifties. Or looks like it anyways.

He has thick, jet black hair that has been meticulously combed over and parted to the side. The man's most prominent features are his deep set, slate grey eyes and prominent jawline.

Everything about the man carries an aura of discipline and sureness. The dark slacks are neatly pressed. The white collared shirt is fully buttoned up, complete with a black tie. A black high collar trench coat spans across his broad shoulders.

Even his stride is purposeful and measured.

So that's their new president, huh?

Kaito glances over at the man on the president's left. Closely cropped, dark hair, slim eyebrows, and sharper cheekbones. Younger than the president, but definitely older than sensei.

Somewhere in his mid-thirties? Whatever, he'll go with that. He's shit with guessing people's ages.

The man is leaner, but as Kaito's eyes narrow, definitely someone not to take lightly in a fight. There's a crisp sense of power and danger subtly concealed in the way the man moves. Looking at the man walk is gives him the same feeling as watching the glimmer of steel before a blade is drawn.

He's also dressed similarly albeit with a longer, unbuttoned black trench coat over a light gray, military styled collared shirt and belted black slacks.

Kaito furrows his eyebrows. What the hell is up with the military vibe he's getting from these guys?

Because while the association has never been lax with dealing with vampires after the war, they have never been particularly gung-ho or assertive on missions either.

From what he remembers, the guy goes by Ryou.

No surname. No mention of his previous rank.

It's common knowledge at headquarters now that he is the president's right hand man. Even from here, Kaito can detect a sense of trust and deference between the two.

But other than that? Nothing. Nada.

Well, doesn't that just scream trustworthiness.

Kaito inwardly scoffs. He's starting to see why sensei is so disgruntled about them.

Yagari frowns slightly on the other hand, blue eye flicking over the two briefly. And like before, he easily spots the hardened expression in their eyes, placed there by years on the job, experience, and it's because Yagari can recognize it that it puts him on edge.

He eases off from the rough brick wall and drops his cigarette before crushing it under the thick sole of his boot.

He really ought to be paid overtime for this.

Takenaka comes to a stop, precisely four steps in front of him. Ryou also comes to a pause. Yagari can sense that Kaito is subtly tense as well.

Silence sinks into the space between them, heavy and apprehensive. Yagari, never one for useless wordplay, severs it by nodding and saying crisply, "President."

Takenaka nods back and responds straightforwardly, "Yagari-san. I see you have already arrived. Kaito-kun as well. Have you been debriefed?"

Kaito pauses at that odd wording before he answers simply, "We have."

Yagari tilts his head towards the building and says offhandedly, "Shall we go in now? It's a little too cold here to be standing here exchanging pleasantries."

Out of the corner of his eye, Kaito catches Ryou looking sharply at Yagari, no doubt miffed at Yagari's casualness, before his face smooths over in an impassive expression again.

"Of course. Cross-san is expecting us." Takenaka says simply. He fluidly turns and strides into the building. Ryou does not even hesitate before he follows as well, stride matching seamlessly with the president.

Yagari suppresses another sigh and walks in, hands in his pockets, fingers already twitching for another cigarette. The new president sure doesn't mince his words, and there is a brusqueness to every word that sharply contradicts the politeness of them. He can already tell that the man is rather inflexible, and that this meeting with Cross is most likely not going to go that well.

Kaito raises an eyebrow at the terse exchange before he hurries after Yagari as well.

---

Takenaka knocks on the door, one crisp rap that resounds through the oak doors before Cross's voice rings out cheerfully. "Come in!"

Takenaka lifts an eyebrow before he opens the door and walks in with Ryou following after. The two, however, are barely five steps beyond the doorway before both of them come to a complete stop.

Yagari pauses and looks blankly at the scene.

Cross – What the hell is the man even doing? - is balanced precariously on the stepladder. And by balanced, Yagari means that one leg is on the stepladder, one hand gripping the edge of the bookshelf, and the other leg is dangling in the air.

In other words, Cross isn't balanced for shit and Yagari questions Cross's predilection towards defying gravity at every possible opportunity.

Cross is not even looking at them. He's still stretching his fingers as he strains his entire body forward to reach the file that also rests perilously on top of the towering bookcase that is already crammed with countless books.

Idiot.

And of course, Cross is wearing his usual brand of crazy. He has on an indigo collared shirt, a black vest, and gray checkered slacks complete with a dark red top hat and his usual lion slippers.

It's seriously like watching the circus master do acrobatics. Yagari represses a groan. Done. This meeting is done before it even started.

Cross is completely unperturbed by the varying expressions of bewilderment on his guests or Yagari's deeply exasperated one or even Kaito's incredibly amused one. He merely gestures in the air for them to sit down, but the stepladder wobbles ominously as he does so.

It takes all of Yagari's willpower not to yank him down already. Everyone in the whole damned room can see the catastrophe from miles away.

Unflustered by his near fall, Cross continues cheerfully as ever, "Come in, come in! Please have a seat. I'm afraid you will have to give me a minute to pull down this file."

Takenaka, to his credit, recomposes himself and says carefully, "…Of course, Cross-san. Do you require assistance?"

Cross swivels his head around to look towards the president. The stepladder lurches for a sudden, very painfully tangible moment before it settles again and Cross rights himself, much to the relief of the entire room.

Cross laughs a little at that before he says flippantly, "No, no. It's fine. Don't worry yourself. Please help yourself to the brownies I made." He turns back towards the bookcase and continues, fingers craning towards the file when the file suddenly tumbles down.

…Along with the rest of everything it's been sitting on.

Cross blinks and freezes. "I – oops. Hmm, perhaps, I should invest in a file cabinet."

There is a moment of silence in the room as everyone stares at the flurry of papers plummeting down on the gleaming, polished wooden floor.

Yagari is torn between feeling exasperated or incredulous, and settles instead on thinking that Cross should invest in some new sanity as well.

Cross shrugs and ambles down the stepladder, completely at ease as if his entire office does not look at all ransacked now. He merely steps over the pile of scattered papers and bends down to pick up the file in one fluid motion. "Well, there we go."

He turns to face Takenaka and Ryou and gestures once more towards the armchairs in front of the desk. With a genial smile, Cross continues, "Won't you please sit down then?"

Takenaka watches him curiously for a moment before he nods and walks towards the desk. Ryou follows after him, but not without glancing bewilderedly at Cross.

Yagari suppresses a sigh and ambles over as well. He notes that there are four armchairs already prepared in front of Cross's desk.

This time he does sigh before dropping down in the armchair.

Kaito pauses for a moment. He would rather be sitting on the sofa so that he doesn't have to actively participate in this clearly wonderful conversation they will be having. He grimaces slightly before sitting down as well next to Yagari.

Seriously though, does he even need to be here for this?

Once they are all seated, Takenaka glances at Cross again, but Cross does not say anything. Instead, he hums and reaches for the teapot sitting on the tray on his desk to start preparing the tea cups.

Slowly but surely, Yagari can smell the earthy, sweet aroma of the tea diffusing throughout the room, warm and welcoming.

Yagari has to admit that he's a little impressed. Cross has single-handedly shifted the atmosphere to something lighter and more comfortable. His lips twitch briefly in an amused grin because that is what exactly makes Cross unpredictable, the deliberateness that shows its face now and then through his carefreeness.

Cross asks lightly, "Is tea alright with you? President…?"

"Takenaka. Takenaka Masato. Tea is fine."

Cross nods and continues pouring the tea in the next cup. He glances towards Ryou, and Ryou immediately answers as well. "Ryou."

"Ah," Cross acknowledges before he gives each person their tea cup. "Congratulations on your new position, Takenaka-san. I have to admit I was surprised to hear that the association had a new president."

He hands Yagari his tea as he asks nonchalantly, "May I ask whatever happened to the former president?"

Yagari accepts the tea cup and notes that this time there are white doves and red roses on the porcelain. He takes a sip of the tea - Earl Grey this time - all the while taking care to listen attentively to the president's answer.

Takenaka answers, tone blunt and direct, "He retired."

Yagari narrows his eyes slightly. There is no hesitance, no pretense at all in the man's tone and yet the words are vague and suspicious.

"I see," Cross only says before he pushes forward a plate of…

…the most lopsided versions of brownies that Yagari has ever seen. Or at least, that's what he hopes Cross was trying to make. The dark deep orange color is throwing him off.

Why the man insists on cooking, he will never know.

Cross looks at them, eyes expectant and enthusiastic, and urges them, "Here, you go. Please don't be reserved. Take as many as you want."

Takenaka barely spares it more than a brief look before he excuses himself rather diplomatically, "I'm afraid I have to watch the amount of sugar I take. The health concerns that old age brings, you see."

"Ah. Of course, I understand." Cross then turns and grins at Ryou, who now looks slightly uncomfortable. "Then, Ryou-san, please enjoy these brownies in the president's stead. Kaito-kun. You too."

Kaito does not even hesitate and says quickly, "Sorry, Chairman. I have a stomach ache."

Before Cross can even say anything to him, Yagari says bluntly, "I'm not hungry."

He ignores the pointed glance that Cross gives him discreetly. Even he's not that reckless to gamble with his stomach like that.

Cross clears his throat and turns towards the president, tone easy and relaxed. "So, Takenaka-san, what brings you here to the academy?"

"I apologize for the intrusion."

Cross waves a hand dismissively. "Oh, no. It's fine. I'm flattered to have you come visit, but surely, you must have a busy schedule, Takenaka-san. Are you sure it's alright for you to come see me right now?" He smiles and continues, "I'm just a headmaster, after all."

Takenaka smiles slightly and answers in a deep and steady voice. "There is no need for you to be so humble. Your reputation precedes you."

Cross shrugs and says airily, "That's very kind of you to say so, but it's all in the past though. I have retired as a hunter."

Takenaka regards Cross with a speculative gaze before he asks, "I was always curious about that. A capable hunter like you who retired so suddenly. For what reasons, did you decide to leave the association?"

Yagari's eyes flick from Takenaka to Cross in interest at the sudden shift in the conversation.

Cross pauses for a moment before he offers, "I simply realized that there were other things I could accomplish without a sword in my hand."

"Such as opening this academy?" Takenaka prompts, a hint of heavy disapproval in his tone.

"Yes."

There is a note of tension underlying the conversation now, and Yagari watches on warily. Takenaka gives Cross another assessing gaze and says straightforwardly, "I have heard about your views on co-existence, but to believe that this academy can induce such change..."

Takenaka takes a slow sip of his tea before he sets the cup down, the sharp sound of china tinkling as he does so. He continues on steadily, "They say you can't teach a dog new tricks. People do not change so easily, Cross-san. The idea of a former hunter in charge of such a school strikes me as odd."

Cross tilts his head, hazel eyes bright and determined, as he says, "Perhaps, it is hypocritical of me to do so. But, that is what this academy is for. What we could not accomplish as the older generation, the younger generation can."

"Some would say the younger generation is too prone to rebelling against the ideals of the older. They forget things all too easily."

Cross blows gently across the rim of the tea cup before taking a delicate sip. Gazing contemplatively down at the cup, he remarks, "Not all things that cycle through generations are beneficial to have."

The room falls quiet then with the unexpected graveness of his statement.

Cross smiles softly. "The younger ones may be naïve, but it's precisely because of it that they are able to have a different perspective. Isn't that fine then?"

"Is it truly?" Takenaka answers, voice deepening momentarily in seriousness.

Kaito shifts his legs a little restlessly. This conversation is getting a lot more philosophical than he cares for. He inwardly sighs and glances at Takenaka and Cross staring at each other.

It's clear that the new president does not want to delve into this matter anymore either because he says calmly, "But that is enough of this topic. There is something else that I want to discuss with you."

"Please, go ahead."

"I am concerned over the security measures of this academy."

Even Yagari lifts an eyebrow at the frankness of that statement. He knows that the president wants to keep a closer eye on the school, but the way the man talks brings an urgency to the matter that Yagari does not expect.

Cross starts slowly, "And what in particular has you concerned?"

"The Night Class."

Bewilderment flashes across Cross's face briefly before he ventures carefully, "By that, do you mean the presence of the Night Class itself?"

"No. While I have my own reservations about that, this as you said, an academy where the two races coexist. I am more concerned about the recent events." Takenaka's grey eyes gleam critically and he frowns, voice deepening in clear dissatisfaction, "Specifically the fact that a pureblood was able to infiltrate this academy so easily."

Yagari narrows his eyes. So the president is already informed of the incident with Shizuka.

Takenaka continues on calmly and gestures to Yagari and Kaito, "I would like to assign two hunters to the Night Class to prevent similar events from occurring."

Despite the seemingly courteous wording, there is a clear assertiveness in Takenaka's tone and the request is more of an order than anything. The man really is testing Cross, Yagari muses.

Cross seems to realize it too because he has a slight frown now.

"Cross-san?"

"I…understand your reasoning." Cross pauses before his face tenses into an uncharacteristically determined expression. "But I would like to make one thing clear."

Takenaka gazes straight back and nods shortly. "Please, go ahead."

"I do not tolerate anyone interfering with the studies of my students, whether it be the Hunter's Association or the Vampire Council. It is my firm opinion that the affairs of adults should not involve children," Cross emphasizes, a resolute golden gleam in his hazel eyes and features sharpening.

Yagari raises an eyebrow at the tense exchange. He did not think that Cross would respond so assertively in return either. If anything, Cross needs to tread carefully here or the academy will be in the association's crosshairs from now on.

He glances over at Takenaka, grudgingly impressed by the man's purposefulness. By now, it is obvious that the man is anything but timid.

Still…

Yagari's eyes flick back to Cross. There is a strange satisfaction in seeing that tigers always have their claws after all, even if they're retired and wearing a top hat.

Ryou speaks up then, much to everyone's surprise. His voice is cold as he counters sharply, "I would hardly call a group of bloodsuckers the innocent children that you seem so fond in deluding yourself in, Cross-san."

Kaito blinks. And people call him harsh. He glances at Ryou. The man was so quiet throughout this entire conversation that he quite honestly forgot the man was even here in the first place.

He narrows his eyes. No, not quiet. The man was sitting back and observing. Even now, Ryou is scrutinizing Cross for his reaction. Geez, and Kaito thought the president was overbearing.

"Ryou," Takenaka reprimands, voice stern.

Ryou narrows his eyes but stays silent.

Cross pauses before he says lightly but with a hint of displeasure in his tone, "The Night Class are enrolled as students, and they will be treated as such." He looks towards Takenaka and smiles slightly, "Assigning two hunters would suggest that I do not trust them and foster an environment that is detrimental to the goals of this academy. I hope you can understand my position."

Takenaka says calmly, "Your resoluteness is commendable, Cross -san. I can tell that you care for your students, but recent events at the academy are a cause for concern. The association regards the safety of the Day Class seriously."

He pauses and then asks abruptly, "You have two guardians here, correct?"

"We do."

Takenaka nods. "Then think of the two assigned hunters as added surveillance and protection. This academy has a large perimeter. More hands could only be beneficial. Once matters have been thoroughly investigated, and there is no threat of danger present, then I will withdraw them."

He continues gravely, "It would be a shame for the academy you cherish so highly to be shut down for mere security concerns."

Yagari raises an eyebrow as he lifts the cup to his lips. A threat is a threat, no matter how sugar coated it is. Cross is going to have his hands full with the new president.

Cross does not relent and continues steadily, "I understand then, Takenaka-san. If I may be frank, if it wasn't for the fact that Yagari and Kaito-kun are both reliable hunters, I would be less willing to accept this. However, I reserve the right to remove them if their presence becomes a distraction."

At that, Ryou looks sharply at Cross and objects, "Cross-san, you are overstepping your boundaries. This is a request from the-"

Takenaka holds a palm up to interrupt Ryou and looks towards Cross. "I understand. That's fine. Then Yagari-san and Kaito-kun will start on Monday then."

Cross smiles and offers, "Alright. Is there anything else I could help you with?"

Takenaka shakes his head and stands up. "No, that is all. Thank you for your cooperation."

Cross also stands up and says cheerfully again, "Of course. Here, let me lead you out."

"That isn't necessary, Cross-san. I would not want to take away from your time."

Cross waves a hand in dismissal and with another bright smile, he rambles, "Oh, no. It's no trouble at all. Actually, we have some beautiful winter flowers in bloom today. There are some you can see on the way to the main entrance of the academy. You know, I had no idea camellias had such a wonderful bloom period."

Yagari sighs and shakes his head. The normal person would want be glad to be done with this taxing conversation. Cross, on the other hand, is offering to lead the man on an impromptu flower tour.

Takenaka pauses, clearly unwilling, but he gestures to the door and says politely, "If you will then."

---

Kaname pauses. Something subtly shifts through the room, as fleeting as a stray wind rusting through a wind chime. The pen stills in his fingers. His gaze slides expectantly to the right side of the desk. "Seiren."

She nods and informs him briskly, "Kaname-sama. The council members have arrived."

Kaname sighs. "Very well." He puts down the pen and slides the documents in front of him into a folder. Tapping a finger on the cover, he gazes at it speculatively. It is fortunate that this arrived in time today.

He can already sense the presence of the council members arriving at the school. And of course, with the hunters arriving a little earlier... well, this certainly is an odd sort of rendezvous.

Kaname rests back against the leather chair and closes his eyes. He is not looking forward to this conversation. Slinging arrows for words is not his idea of a favorite pastime and neither is dodging them.

The clear, sharp sound of china plates clinking softly against each other rings out in the air, and the heady, warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee drifts through the room now.

He opens his eyes and sees Seiren lifting the coffee pot gracefully. She pours the coffee with the same precise finesse that she uses on every assignment, no matter how serious or trivial it is.

Kaname idly wonders if Cross's own meeting is going well when a knock resounds through the door. He gazes expectantly at the door, automatically slipping back into his usual composure. Takuma's voice rings out clearly. "Kaname, the council members are here."

"Please bring them in."

The door opens slowly and Takuma holds the door to let the three council members through. He glances at Kaname in concern before Kaname looks at him reassuringly. Takuma nods discreetly and closes the door with a soft click.

Kaname's eyes rove back to the council members. He expected two at the very most, but this is fine too.

Ichijo is, unsurprisingly, the first one to stride forward undaunted. There is a sharp expression in his eyes and he says tersely, "Kuran-sama."

Kaname gazes back at him before his eyes flick to the others. "Everyone, please have a seat."

One of the councilmembers, Hiruma, a man who appears in his late twenties with chin length, curly dark hair, smiles politely and says, "We apologize for bothering you, but the investigation is a rather important issue."

Kaname nods and responds smoothly, "Of course. How may I help you?

"Perhaps you can recount the details of the events once more," Ichijo answers instead, eyes still observing Kaname shrewdly and hands folded casually in his lap.

Kaname inwardly frowns. It would be a meaningless move, and he isn't going to sit here and recount to them a story for them to nitpick over and interrogate him. Instead, Kaname suggests, "I am certain that my recount has already been transcribed. Perhaps it would be more efficient if you were to ask me about any specific concerns you may have."

He deliberately pauses and remarks casually, "I have to admit, I'm a little curious about this meeting. Has the council not already concluded this matter? Why the need for further investigation?"

Kaname discreetly notices that the other two councilmembers look slightly uncomfortable at his question. Good. It confirms his suspicions that Ichiou is the one who initiated both this meeting and the investigation.

Ichijo replies coolly in the same unflinching tone. "We take our duties very seriously, especially considering the rare remaining pureblood families these days."

At Ichijo's lead, Hiruma nods and adds carefully, "There are some…questions about the conclusion of the initial report."

"Such as?" Kaname presses. It is clear that the others still seem hesitant in pursuing the matter. Which, as Kaname narrows his eyes slightly, is advantageous for him. He only needs to remind them of the troublesome nature of the issue at hand for them to abandon it.

The real obstacle here is Ichiou.

Hiruma continues, "The evidence is circumstantial at best."

The woman sitting next to him, Kugamiya, a tall woman in her late thirties with blond hair pinned neatly in a low bun, speaks up then and elaborates, "Indeed. We would like actual proof that Kiryu Zero is the one who killed Hio-san."

Kaname remarks, "I have given you my account. Is that not enough?"

As expected, Hiruma pauses, unsure on how to answer that without slighting Kaname. Before he or Kugamiya can speak, Ichijo interrupts and asserts flatly, "It is not."

Kaname lifts an eyebrow and remarks, "I do not understand what you want from me. You want evidence, but all I have to offer is my account, which you are not satisfied with. Are you insinuating that my word is not to be trusted or that I am under suspicion for Shizuka's death?"

Hiruma immediately looks slightly alarmed at Kaname's phrasing and quickly moves to correct him. "No, of course not. We merely-"

"Are you involved in Hio-san's death?" Ichijo interrupts, tone sharp and shrewd eyes still observing Kaname's reaction.

Hiruma glances sideways at Ichijo, slightly surprised at his tone. Kugamiya on the other hand, sighs and gracefully reaches for the coffee cup in front of her. "Ichijo-san. Really. That is a bit straightforward of you."

Ichijo ignores her and repeats gravely, "Are you?"

Kaname stares at him unflinchingly, and asks again, "Am I or am I not under investigation for this?"

"And if I said you were?" Ichijo counters, a challenging note in his tone.

"Then, I would question the point of this conversation. You seem to have made your decision regardless of what I say."

Ichijo immediately frowns, displeased at his answer, and remarks, "Do you understand the severity of the issue at hand?"

"I do. Do you? Tell me, is this investigation due to a mutual decision from the council or your own personal motives?" Kaname pushes forward the folder on his desk. He deliberately opens it, flips through the pages so that they can all see that it is the initial report, and stops at the last page, where the official seal of the council is stamped on the report.

He continues loftily, "Because I have been notified that the majority of the council has already closed the case and already accepted the conclusion that they arrived at."

He looks at Ichijo and hands him the folder. There is a flash of irritation in Ichijo's eyes before he reluctantly takes the folder from Kaname, not even sparing it another glance.

"How diligent of you." Ichijo notes dryly and the file dangles carelessly in his hand.

Kaname responds with a slight smile, "As are you. Your fervor in pursuing this is admirable, but the issue is already resolved and the council surely has other issues it must attend to."

Out of the corner of his eye, he can see Hiruma staying silent and Kugamiya looking on with interest.

Unexpectedly however, Ichijo says rather calmly, "Very well. We would not want to make a mountain out of a molehill, after all."

Kaname narrows his eyes at the easy acceptance and surveys Ichijo warily. The man has another card under his sleeve.

Ichijo continues on, his blue eyes glinting, "I will accept the conclusion. Since the evidence points to Kiryu, he will be the one who deals with the proper repercussions then."

Kaname tenses and asks sharply, "What do you mean by that?"

Ichijo smirks slightly as he notices Kaname's reaction and remarks in a decidedly patronizing tone that has Kaname wondering if this is what Ichijo was aiming for all along, "Oh? Why the concern? You know the policy, do you not? The murder of any pureblood is a very serious matter and warrants harsh consequences. Otherwise, how could we perform our duty and reassure purebloods of their safety?"

Kaname stares at him, expression carefully devoid of any emotion. But, the insincerity of it all rankles him. It is so easy to see through Ichijo's pretense. The excuses are thin papier-mâché veneers, and it chafes Kaname to see them draped over something so serious.

Dark irritation carves through his skin, raking its claws through his composure.

The words he uttered to Zero flashes through his mind again. I'm not treating this as a game, so don't you dare do it either.

And perhaps, he never cared to consider that before, but he does now. Zero isn't a pawn. Kaname won't let him be one. Not after what Zero almost did to himself, not after all the things that were said and revealed that day.

The issue of the bond does not even occur to him as Kaname looks at Ichijo and responds tersely, "It was self-defense."

Seiren places down the coffee pot down soundlessly on the serving tray. She notices the subtle shift in Kaname's aura. It is a little surprising, but Seiren does not question it. Instead, her sharp violet eyes flick to the councilmembers warily as she readies herself in preparation.

It seems that this conversation with the council members is not going well, after all.

Ichijo lifts an eyebrow and says dismissively, "It is still the death of a pureblood, and at the hands of a hunter no less. We will take action." He straightens and moves to get up, the wooden leg of the armchair brushing softly against the plush carpet. "We are done here. We apologize for any conveniences that we may have caused."

Ichio starts walking towards the door, and the other council members, after nodding respectfully to Kaname, follow after him. It is clear that they have made their decision.

Kaname narrows his eyes. Unacceptable. It is unacceptable. Shizuka's death was his fault, and he won't let Zero suffer the consequences for his actions.

Not anymore.

Kaname stands up, the papers rustling at his abrupt movement – Seiren tenses imperceptibly - and his voice slices through the still air like a razor sharp blade, dangerous and authoritative.

"You will not."

All three councilmembers instinctively stop. Hiruma shifts uncomfortably at the sudden palpable tension in the room and glances at Ichijo for direction. Kugamiya lifts an eyebrow at Kaname's statement and her eyes flick from him to Ichijo in wariness.

Ichijo neatly turns back to face him again, but his stance is unhesitating and there is only a dissatisfied frown on his face as he regards Kaname patronizingly. He deliberately asks in an accommodating tone, "I beg your pardon, but what is it that we will not do?"

Kaname continues, voice low and warning, "I tire of your charade. You will not take any such action towards Kiryu. It was self-defense and you yourself are aware of this fact. Shizuka came to this academy with clearly dangerous motives, and Kiryu responded accordingly as his duty as a guardian."

Ichijo only stares back at him, face stoic as ever, and remarks coolly, "And any such individual, who can dispose of a pureblood that easily, regardless of the reasons, is a threat. You yourself as a pureblood should be aware of this."

Hiruma nods in agreement and adds, "I also have to agree with Ichijo-san. I am not at ease with having such an individual on the same campus as the rest of the nobles enrolled at this school."

"What was Shizuka's mental state?" Kaname questions abruptly.

Himura pauses and asks unsurely, "I'm sorry? Kuran-sama, what do-"

Kaname emphasizes, "Under what category was she classified?"

Ichijo's face immediately tightens as he gazes heavily at Kaname. Himura glances towards Ichijo again before he starts carefully, "Hio-san was…considered mentally unstable."

"And what is the council's usual response towards a mentally unstable pureblood?"

When no one answers, Kaname repeats firmly, voice edged with impatience, "Do I need to repeat myself? What is the council's response towards a mentally unstable pureblood?"

Ichijo gives him another frosty glare. Himura pauses, clearly unwilling to be the unfortunate respondent anymore. Kugamiya sighs before she says straightforwardly, "Isolation. And if need be, under the most extreme circumstances, death."

"That is because such a pureblood is not only dangerous to humans but to fellow vampires as well, correct?"

"Yes."

"Then where is the issue in the way Kiryu handled the situation? Was Shizuka not a threat to both the night class and the day class?" Kaname stares at Ichijo and continues, "You said that because I was a pureblood that I should be the most concerned about this, but it is because of that very same fact that I see no issue in this."

Ichijo brushes him off and says impassively, "We will take your opinion in consideration, but this is a matter for the council to deliberate on."

"Even if I am one of those purebloods that you supposedly protect?"

Ichijo raises an eyebrow and feigns nonchalance, "I do not understand your tone, but yes, even so."

Kaname narrows his eyes ever so slightly, and he says evenly, "The council may take whatever course of action it sees fit. I will do the same."

This time, it is Kugamiya who narrows her teal eyes at him and questions, "Are you threatening us?"

Kaname raises an eyebrow and remarks nonchalantly, "Am I?"

He surveys them and continues in a level voice, "You all are very much aware of the reasons I have for attending this academy. And while I am aware that not everyone shares my opinion, I would like to see the goals of this academy realized. You understand why I would not be so happy if the council intervened and set back all my efforts in furthering this cause, now don't you?"

Ichijo notes with a disparaging frown on his face, "Surely the matter of a single prefect or guardian is not severe enough to affect your own affairs."

"I think you all are aware of the delicate balance between the two races."

Ichijo gives him a sharp, assessing look as he demands, "Is co-existence your only goal here?"

"Is safeguarding purebloods yours?" Kaname counters smoothly before continuing. "I prefer if from now on, the council could conduct its business along the official pathway, especially concerning the academy. If you have a resolution you would like to carry out, please have the proper documentation and authorization and I will cooperate accordingly."

"We will keep that in mind then." Ichijo says stiffly.

Kaname gestures to the door. "Then let me see you out."

---

Yuki idly skims her fingers over the waxy, green leaves as she walks by the hedge. They rustle at her touch, and the wind that tousles her hair sweeps by to ripple through the hedge as well. It's a little cool out now.

She tilts her head back to squint at the darkening white gray sky. Streaks of pale pink and violet slash through the heavy gray and Yuki can make out the setting sun.

It's evening then.

Yuki glances sideways at Zero. While it is nice and all to go through the gardens, still it's a little….

"Um, Zero. What are we doing all the way over here?"

Zero has his hands in his pockets as he raises an eyebrow at her. "What do you mean? We're patrolling. Are you sleepwalking now?"

Even as he says it, Zero finds himself covering his mouth to stifle a yawn. His eyes water and he quickly blinks away the sudden teardrops. Damn, he feels exhausted.

This whole week has been terrible. All girls have been coming up to him to ask him about his supposed secret girlfriend, the stupid hickeys, and whatever idiotic things that they think it's ok to annoy him about now.

He can't take it anymore.

Even his usual threat of detention doesn't make them bat an eye anymore. And Zero thinks it says volumes when even his trademark glare does nothing to drive them away. He doesn't think he ever had his patience stretched this thin before.

Or realized just how terrifyingly stubborn these girls are.

Yuki suddenly nudges him and Zero blinks back at her before he remembers her question again. Yuki looks at him exasperated as she huffs, "Hey! It's a valid question." She glances at him again and continues curiously, "We usually don't go this far into the gardens."

Zero shrugs and repeats again, "We're patrolling."

Yuki looks unconvinced at the answer, but she shrugs and runs her fingers through the hedge once more, apparently not interested enough to press him for an explanation.

Actually, Zero wondered when she would realize that they were pretty much walking over every inch of the school grounds. Hell, it's more of a field trip than a patrol at this point.

He frowns. It's necessary though. Kaname's meeting, Cross's meeting, both of them are today and knowing Yuki, it's just better to have her away from the main building, the Moon Dorms.

So hence the gardens.

Zero shakes his head and brushes aside a dangling branch absentmindedly. Even if there is nothing around them right, aside from the clusters of pink and white blossoms and the occasional squirrel, he still can't seem to shake off the anxiousness that he woke up with today.

The restlessness blends in with the slow drag of his exhaustion. It sits uncomfortably over him like uneven static crackling through his skin. It makes all of his hunter senses stand on end, his muscles taut with tension.

Off. Something just feels off.

Zero frowns and surveys the area around them once again. Great. This is going to nag at him until the day is over.

Yuki frowns at Zero's discomforted expression and asks, a little worried. "Zero? Is there something wrong?"

Zero shrugs as they continue walking. "Not really."

She pauses and surveys him critically. He shifts uncomfortably and grumbles, "I'm fine, Yuki."

Yuki does not drop the topic, probably because she knows him well enough by now, and continues, "You seem…restless."

He shrugs again and comments offhandedly, "You're imagining things."

At that, Yuki lightly bumps him in the shoulder for that remark. She narrows her eyes in growing suspicion and insists, "I am not! You keep glancing around every so often. And shifting."

"I…I'm just hungry," Zero offers, cringing inwardly at the completely unconvincing words.

Yuki apparently thinks the same because she shakes her head to complain, "You know, Zero, you could have at least tried to make an excuse."

He grumbles, "I don't want to hear this from the girl who said she overslept to her teacher when she was late to class."

"One time. That was one time," Yuki objects, eyes widening indignantly.

Zero says absently as they round another bend in the gardens. "If you say so."

His eyes rove across the neatly trimmed hedges and mentally gauges the distance they are from the main building of the school. Maybe they should start heading back now. The sky is darkening now, and it's not that safe either to be wandering around the far edge of the school grounds either.

He wonders if Cross's meeting with the new president is done by now. Well, they could just skirt the main building to go to the Day Dorm then.

With that decided, Zero nods towards one of the pathways to start heading back to the main building. Yuki blinks at him before she follows.

They are walking in silence for several minutes when Yuki suddenly asks, "So?"

When she does not elaborate, Zero glances at her and asks confusedly, "So what?"

Yuki giggles and tilts her head to the side with a mischievous gleam to her eyes. She asks deliberately slowly, "How did things go with Kaname-senpai?"

Zero blinks, caught off guard by the sudden question, and stammers, "W-what? Why are you asking this all of a sudden?"

Yuki grins and says cheerfully, "Because."

He pulls a face and looks at her a little incredulously. Because? Because of what?

Lately, he's been feeling that he isn't just on different pages with everyone else, but that they all might as well be reading different novels. Damn, this week has been completely getting to him. All of those stupid questions from those girls, and now this?

Zero inwardly sighs. Why is everyone trying so hard to remind him of things he doesn't want to think about? He didn't ask for an intervention; he'd actually like to keep his goddamned self-denial.

He scowls and says brusquely, "He just wanted to talk about stuff."

"Such as?"

He glances at her, exasperated. "Why are you even asking about this?"

Yuki snickers at his response before she says teasingly, "You don't have to be embarrassed, Zero." Yuki spins half around, skirt slight billowing out as she does so, to look at him. "See? I told you. Kaname-senpai isn't as bad as you think he is."

Zero doesn't know if Yuki's doing it on purpose or if it's just one of the many bonuses of this terrible week, but this isn't a conversation he wants to continue.

He makes a noncommittal sound. Zero inwardly sighs and hopes Yuki knows well enough to change topics.

She doesn't, and he fights the urge to smack his forehead against a wall or something.

Yuki grins and presses, "I'm glad you guys are friends now."

Zero grimaces. He doesn't know what the hell he and Kaname are anymore, but 'friends' doesn't quite capture the what-the-hell-is-even-happening aspect of their situation.

Or the whole we're-bonded-now thing either.

Zero gives Yuki another exasperated look and grumbles, "Yuki. I don't ever remember saying that."

"See? This is why the girls keep calling you a tsundere," She teases, lips curving in another amused smile.

Zero makes a face and asks, "A what? What the hell is that?"

Yuki hums and shrugs as she skips a little ahead. "You know."

He furrows his eyebrows and retorts, "No. I don't know. And stop listening to them. Stupidity is contagious, and you're already as airheaded as it is."

Yuki stops then and turns to him with an indignant expression. She has her hands on her hips as she protests, "Hey! I take offense to that!"

She reaches out to pinch him in the arm. Zero immediately twists away and says, "Sure, whatever you say." Yuki purses her lips, and without any warning, her fingers dart out to pinch his forearm again.

Zero steps away from her, rubbing at his arm. "Alright. I get it. I - Geez- You- Stop pinching me!" He gripes, glaring at her.

Yuki pauses at that, finally satisfied at his reaction.

He rolls his eyes and mutters, "And while, we're on the subject on stopping things and idiots, do something about those girls too, won't you? They keep giggling whenever I pass all week long and I swear to god, Yuki, they're getting on my last nerve."

Yuki widens her eyes and declares in dismay, "It's troublesome for me too, Zero! Do you have any idea what kind of questions they keep asking me in class all week?"

She pauses suddenly, and her cheeks flush a bright pink before she adds, "It's so embarrassing. And weird."

He raises an eyebrow and comments, "I don't want to know then. But do something."

Yuki stares incredulously and waves a hand in the air to emphasize her words, "I can't! Since when have they listened to me?"

"If nothing changes, I'm not going to class changeover over anymore."

She stops walking and turns to look back at him, eyes wide and aghast. "Zero! You can't do that!"

"Watch me."

She frowns unhappily before she challenges, "If you leave me to do that by myself again, I'm going to…." Yuki stops and bites her lips as she struggles to think of a viable threat.

Zero snorts with amusement. "To what?"

Yuki nudges him in the arm for that and continues hotly, "I'll come up with something. Like…like I'll bother you for the entire day nonstop if you skip the changeover."

He raises an eyebrow. "Don't you already do that?"

She glares at him and challenges, "I do not! Do you want to bet?"

"…No."

At that, she purses her lips again and gives him a pointed look. She is about to lecture him again before her eyes widen. She tugs on Zero's sleeve, startling him, and drags him over to one of the flower bushes. "Ooh, look at the flowers over here! They're so pretty!"

"Mmn." Zero glances over the bright pink blossoms in disinterest before he looks down at Yuki and frowns. "You know, you really need to stop pulling my sleeve."

She brushes her finger across the petals and asks distractedly, "Hmm? What sleeve?"

Zero looks at her blankly before he gives up and sighs.

She's still leaning down and gazing at the flowers, the strands of her hair gleaming a fiery auburn under the disappearing sunlight, when Yuki suddenly says softly, "You know, I'm glad."

Zero blinks in confusion. "What do you mean?"

She straightens and tilts her head to look at him, a gentle smile on her lips and wide red-brown eyes soft and radiant in their sincerity. "I'm glad that you're more like yourself lately. And I'm glad you're getting along with Kaname-senpai. You both are very important to me."

Zero stills, taken aback by her words that linger with the brisk wind. It's suddenly hard to swallow, and he doesn't know what he's supposed to do with the glaring honesty in her words. "Yuki…"

His voice trails off. He doesn't know what to say, and for some inexplicable reason, his skin prickles with unease when Zero wonders how she would react if he told her the truth about him and Kaname.

Yuki does not notice his reaction though. She's staring off into the distance and notes, "Hey! I can see the main building from here now." Yuki turns towards him, an excited gleam in her eyes as she grins. "I'll race you!"

Zero gapes, still bewildered, half-formed thoughts still racing through his mind. "I – Oi! Wait! Yuki! Don't just go off on your own like that!"

But, Yuki is already sprinting ahead, the heels of her boots clicking against the smooth cobblestone of the pathway. Zero blinks again before he gives up on thinking and chases after her.

---

Takenaka remarks, grey eyes observant and shrewd. "What a coincidence. Cross-san, care to explain the presence of so many distinguished vampires on campus today?"

Cross blinks, a little alarmed at the sudden gathering at the front gate. Strange…He thought he timed it perfectly for them to both exit at different times.

Ichijo is standing in front of Takenaka, with the two council members standing behind him. Kaname is standing off to the side with Seiren at his side and exchanges a wary glance with Cross when he looks towards him.

Oh dear. He mistimed things then. He had thought that surely, the meeting with the council would have ended earlier. Cross smiles cheerfully and says lightly, "It seems like today was the day for meetings."

Before the president can respond back to him, Ichijo interrupts and asks coolly, "And who might you be?"

Takenaka looks back at him and responds calmly, "Takenaka Masato. The new president of the Hunter's Association."

Ichijo raises an eyebrow. "New? I wasn't aware that the association had a change in administration."

Takenaka's expression tightens and he says brusquely, "Nor should you. The internal affairs of the association do not concern the council."

Ichijo raises an eyebrow at his frankness before he frowns as well and remarks curtly, "Of course not."

"What is your purpose in visiting here, councilman?"

Ichijo stares at Takenaka warily before remarking, "I could ask the same about you, president."

Takenaka does not even pause and says matter-of-factly, "Analyzing the security of this academy."

"What a coincidence. So were we," Ichijo announces flatly.

Takenaka stares at him and his voice deepens in warning, "I would advise the council against taking any reckless actions here. You'll find that my administration will not be as forgiving or lenient as the last one."

Ichijo smirks slightly and comments loftily, "Is that so? For a first introduction, you seem already wary, Takenaka-san."

"I have a good reason to."

Ichijo frowns, suspicious. "What are you implying?"

Takenaka lifts an eyebrow and says harshly, "Exactly what I said. The activities of my predecessor are not a secret to me."

Ichijo narrows his eyes, and his voice has a dangerous undertone to it as he states, "I do not know what you are trying to imply, but I suggest you think very wisely before making any accusations."

---

Zero is about to yell at Yuki again to stop running when a sudden scream pierces through the air.

He stills. The shrill sound grates against his nerves and distorts the space in his ears. It immediately prickles his skin, leaving a painful wake of goosebumps behind. Adrenaline streaks through him, blood thrumming underneath his skin. His fingers are already tensing on the Bloody Rose.

In front of him, he can see Yuki stopping as well and looking around them in alarm. He narrows his eyes and surveys the area carefully.

He furrows his eyebrows as the faint sounds of someone crying carry through the still space of the garden.

Over there. To his right.

Before he can tell Yuki to stay back, she's already racing off in the direction that she sees him staring in. Zero widens his eyes briefly before he darts after her. The hedges blur in an endless green as he only focuses on the flash of brown hair and black uniform in front of him.

"Yuki! Stop!" He yells, heartbeat thundering in his ears.

Blood.

The sharp tang of copper wafts up and shit, that can't be anything good. Yuki. He needs to grab Yuki.

Zero narrows his eyes as he turns around the bend. He lunges forward and yanks Yuki back by the back of her blazer.

She yelps and struggles in his grip. "Zero! Let go! Look!"

Zero is already gazing in that direction and ignores Yuki's yells. He roughly shoves her behind him and cocks the gun. There is a girl on her knees, leaning over a boy lying on the grass.

Vampire. The girl is a vampire. She isn't a Level E; he can see the uniform on her.

Zero narrows his eyes. Night Class then. It doesn't matter. There's a kid on the ground, and it's not hard to arrive at the conclusion that he comes up with.

He lifts up the gun and points it towards her and demands, "Move away from him!"

Yuki tugs at him and he shoulders her back, all the while keeping a firm grip on the gun. She tugs at him again and yells, "No, wait, Zero! She's one of the students."

His eyes flick again to the blond haired girl who's staring at them now.

Her eyes are a bright crimson, but tears are streaming down her cheeks. She has her hands pressed to the guy's stomach, which Zero sees now is to stop the bleeding from the deep wound. The girl widens her eyes in panic and terror as she cries out in desperation, "H-help! Help. Oh, god, help. I-I can't stop the bleeding!"

Zero hears a sharp intake of breath behind him before Yuki darts under his arm and races straight towards the girl.

Zero widens his eyes as his body reflexively moves forwards. That idiot…"Yuki!"

Yuki kneels down towards the girl and the girl turns to her. Zero's fingers are already on the trigger in preparation, but the girl only stammers, voice hysterical, "T-there's so much blood. Oh g-god. I swear, I didn't do it! I didn't."

Yuki is gazing down at the unconscious, injured student, eyes flicking over the wounds as she says soothingly, "It's ok. You're ok. We're not accusing you of anything." She bites her lips and looks up at Zero with wide panicked eyes. "He's bleeding so much."

Zero glances at the girl who still has her hands pressed on the injury, eyes still wide with shock and fear. He lowers his gun and hurries over instead. He nudges Yuki aside and says tensely, "Here. Let me do it. Radio the infirmary."

Yuki blinks before she immediately stands up and pulls out the walkie talkie. "Right!"

Zero takes a deep breath and steels himself against the strong smell of blood swirling thickly in the air. He quickly slips off his blazer and presses it against the wound. He winces slightly when he feels the sticky, warm crimson seeping through the dark cotton.

Shit.

The girl lifts her hands to pull away, but he orders, "Keep applying pressure there."

She nods and immediately presses her hands against the blazer. Zero demands as he searches for more injuries, "Tell me what happened. If you didn't do it, then who did?"

Zero cusses under his breath when he finds a wound on the throat. It looks like bite marks.

He hurriedly tears off a swath from his sleeve and bunches it up to press it against the wound. "Yuki! When are they coming?"

Yuki kneels down and helps applies pressure to the stomach as she says hurriedly, "In a few minutes!"

Zero curses again. He can hear the guy's heartbeat and it sounds a little thready. Damn it. The guy's going die from blood loss if help doesn't come soon enough.

He glances at the girl who is still staring down at the guy in fear. Zero doesn't remember her name, but she definitely is one of the students in the Night Class. He presses her again, "Tell me what happened."

Yuki frowns and is about to protest before Zero gives her a pointed look.

The girl furrows her eyebrows and answers shakily, "I-We were walking, I think…I'm not sure. I can't remember."

Zero narrows his eyes and asks warily, "You can't remember?"

"I-No. Yahiro and I were just walking around the gardens. Or I think we were. And the next thing I knew, I-I was lying on the floor. A-and Yahiro was on the floor, b-bleeding." The girl looks at him desperately and pleads, "Oh god, is he going to be ok? Please tell me he's ok!"

Zero pauses. It's… suspicious that she can't remember anything, but the fear and concern in her eyes is real. She obviously knows this guy, even if he is from the Day Class.

And when Zero examines the both of them closer, they have various scrapes and cuts on their hands and limbs. The girl herself has a long gash down the side of her leg that is slowly healing.

What the hell happened here?

Yuki looks at her and says gently, "It'll be fine. Calm down."

Zero asks, "Did you see anyone else aro-"

A loud, thundering boom rumbles off in the distance. Zero stills. That…that sounds like it's coming from the front of the school.

Pain suddenly slashes through the left side of his neck. He winces and inhales sharply. The white-hot burn mercilessly sears his skin, his nerves, his thoughts. He can't tell. All he can concentrate on is how unbearably scalded his neck feels.

Wrong. Wrong. Something feels incredibly wrong.

The feeling of wrongness sets into him, hollow and incredibly unsettling. It's like someone strummed through the strings in his nerves and snapped one off because the vibration that runs through jars him to the core and his mind is chanting wrongwrongwrong.

Something isn't right. Wrong. Wrong.

Zero thinks Yuki is yelling at him because her mouth is open and her eyes are wide with concern, but he can't hear her at all. All he hears is his heartbeat resounding eerily loud in his ears. He feels his stomach plummeting and his heart thumping erratically, the jagged pulses that vibrate through his fingertips and threaten to rip through his skin.

He inhales again, hoping to calm himself down. But, he finds that he can't take any more than a shallow breath as his chest tightens involuntarily.

Shit. What the fuck? Heart attack? Is he having heart attack or something?

He swallows in growing alarm and suddenly the sensation disappears. He blinks. What? What?

Instinctively, he looks towards the sound from earlier.

Yuki leans forwards, face suddenly appearing in his field of vision. She repeats again, more urgently now. "Zero? What's wrong? Are you ok? What - what was that noise?"

Zero turns and sees Yuki and the girl gazing at him in worry and panic. He blinks, a little shaken, before he grimaces and says in a strained voice, "Everyone, just….just stay still and don't move."

---

Kaname frowns. Cross stands between Ichijo and Takenaka as he tries to coax them to end the sharp exchange of words and calm down.

This really isn't the outcome he wanted.

He glances over at Takenaka. Not much is known about the man, but both his attitude right now and the way he acquired his new position are both causes for concern. The new hunter president is certainly not someone to take lightly, and Kaname sees the same sentiment reflected in Ichijo's displeased expression.

More players to the chessboard that Kaname is no longer sure he is in charge of.

He inwardly frowns. He needs to be more careful. He cannot afford to make reckless decisions now that both the council and the association seem adamant in pursuing their own agendas.

Cross is waving his hands cheerfully in the air as he leads both the hunters and council members towards their respective cars parked on the curb in front of the gate. He is about to reach towards the metal gate to push it open when Kaname suddenly hears a metallic beep.

Kaname only has a split second to wonder at the peculiarity of the sound before all of his instincts blare with the undeniable sense of danger.

Cross tenses as well and barely has enough time to yell "Everyone, get back!" before orange fire bellows out in front of them in a cloud of scorching heat and black ash. Kaname's vision is colored with the scarlet orange flames before he instinctively jumps back. He senses more than sees the rustle of fabric as someone moves in front of him.

Seiren.

Reflexively, he grips Seiren roughly and wrenches both of them to his far right away from the gate just as a rush of scorching heat fans out and whips against his skin. They fall heavily down and his knees scrape painfully against the roughed cracks of the cobblestone.

He thinks Seiren is insisting for him to let her go, but whatever she says is swallowed by the sudden sound of glass shattering. The roar of another explosion thunders blasts through the air.

He instinctively ducks down. The sound of metal screeching against the asphalt grates against his ears. Oppressive heat swarms over him, heavy and suffocating.

Pieces of jagged shrapnel fly in every which way. Metal clanks down noisily down on the ground and scratches against the pavement. Nondescript pieces slice their way into his skin, white thin lines of pain burning into his flesh.

Something dully hits his left temple. The sudden harsh throb of pain has Kaname blinking in disorientation and wincing in discomfort.

The sounds fade into indistinct noises, except for his thundering heartbeat, the quick rush and thud of his blood pulsing through his veins. He automatically tenses.

Nothing runs through his mind as his instincts take over and his senses are honed on the next sign of danger.

The smell of steel and gasoline saturates the air, bitter as the taste of ash on his tongue. The noxious fumes make his eyes water, and Kaname grimaces. He tenses again, apprehensive, but he hears only another slow groan of metal and the dry rasp and crackle of flames.

Kaname waits for a moment before he slowly gets up and gazes around.

Fiery smoke and dust billows out in front of the main gate, the red orange tongues of fire licking into the air. Blackened, charred clouds rise up to disappear into the slate gray sky. The metal bars of the gate are twisted and bent inwards from the full force of the explosion. A part of it collapses with a shrill clang, and the door of the gate itself hangs off the hinges, the metal creaking.

Out on the street, a half torn car door is flung away from the charred remains of what it looks like the cars that were parked there before.

His eyes flick immediately to his left where everyone else is.

Cross is standing up with an uncharacteristic grim frown on his face as he gazes at the damage. There are bloody gashes along his arms and legs. Yagari is sitting down with a knee propped up and the other leg stretched out with similar injuries. He has a frown on his face while Kaito is crouching down with his head between his hands as he cusses aloud.

The councilmembers are a little to his right. They also have various wounds and injuries – Himura looks like he has a particularly harsh wound on his shoulder – but everyone, more or less, is fine. Ichijo himself is frowning heavily and narrowing his eyes towards the explosion.

The president has a similar expression on his face as Ryou helps him up. They also have various scrapes and wounds – Ryou has a particularly bloody knee and cheek- but like the rest, they do not seem to be fatal.

Kaname hazards that the stone brick wall connected to the gate probably helped shield them from the brunt of the explosion.

Seiren suddenly appears in front of his gaze, her pale eyes already examining Kaname for any possible injuries. His eyes catch on her torn sleeve. A long gash runs along her forearm. Bright red rivulets of blood stream down her skin and fingers.

She only frowns though and asks urgently, "Kaname-sama, are you alright?"

He has to blink for a moment because there is still a dull throb in his head and his ears are still ringing before he finally manages to speak aloud, "Yes, I'm fine."

Seiren opens her mouth to say something before a surprised voice interrupts her, "What is this?"

Kaname immediately turns around to see a woman standing next to him adorned in a white coat, black hair twisted in a messy bun with two pencils. Two other individuals stand behind her, staring in alarm at the scene.

It takes a minute for him to remember that this is the school nurse.

Her eyes shrewdly assess the situation as she asks, "What happened here? An explosion?" She suddenly stops herself and glances to her left towards the gardens and mutters, "No. We don't have time for this. Fukui, stay here and see if anyone is injured."

The younger assistant next to her blinks before she says quickly, "Yes!"

The woman nods and she motions towards the other assistant behind her. "We're going!"

Kaname watches as they suddenly turn and start sprinting towards the gardens.

Cross calls out in concern as he notices them running, "Izumi-san! What happened?"

She yells without stopping, "Two students were injured!"

Cross quickly makes his way towards Kaname and turns towards the other nurse standing next to him. "Fukui-san, what happened?"

She frowns and says quietly, "I don't know the full story. The prefects called it in. They found two students injured while patrolling. One from the Day Class and one from the Night Class."

Kaname stills. The prefects? Then…He raises his eyes back and stares off towards the gardens with apprehension.

Cross frowns but before he can say anything, Takenaka speaks up, voice deep and stern, as he stares at the nurse. "What did you say? Two students are injured?"

Cross glances warily at Takenaka, who seemingly comes to a decision and nods to Ryou. They suddenly turn and start walking over in that direction.

Cross narrows his eyes briefly as he calls out in clear disapproval, "Takenaka-san. It is best to let the nurses alone to do their job."

Takenaka makes no sign of listening and the two disappear into the gardens. Kaname inwardly frowns, but when Ichijo suddenly starts walking in that direction with Kugamiya and Hiruma, he frowns outright and warns, "Ichiou. Please heed the headmaster."

Ichijo turns and says patronizingly, "Kuran-sama. Did you not hear? There were two students who were injured. One from the Day Class and one from the Night Class." He turns back and continues walking. "Takenaka-san does not strike me as a particularly cooperative individual."

Kaname narrows his eyes. If he lets the both of them do whatever they want, it would be strange if a fight didn't break out. Not to mention if the prefects are the ones who called in the incident, then Yuki and Zero are already involved in this.

Things are getting alarmingly messy. Someone is rummaging through the chess pieces and flinging them every which way. This was deliberate. The timing of the meetings, the sudden explosions, the appearance of a new president, all of it is too convenient to be random.

Kaname tenses. He does not appreciate being entangled in someone else's spider web, and he won't let Yuki and Zero be implicated in it either.

Seiren watches Kaname for a moment before she asks quietly, "Kaname-sama?"

He frowns, russet eyes unknowingly flashing in irritation. "Check the surrounding area for anyone suspicious. See if you can find anything about the explosion."

Seiren briefly nods before she darts off and Kaname starts moving towards the gardens. Cross turns to him then, surprised. "Kaname-kun – "

Kaname cuts him off and gives him a meaningful stare, but provides only, "The council is my responsibility, Chairman."

Cross pauses and stares after all of them in bewilderment.

Yagari, somehow already with another cigarette dangling from his lips, comments, "If you don't follow after them, something else might catch on fire, Cross." He exhales the smoke and continues, "Kaito and I will have a look around."

Cross glances at him and smiles wearily. "Good thing I renewed the fire insurance on the school, isn't it?"

Yagari blows out the smoke and makes a noise of agreement, already staring critically at the charred marks out on the street outside the gate.

Cross sighs. "Well, then. Fukui-san, shall we go?"

---

Izumi quickly bends downs and carefully assesses the wound on the boy's stomach. She nods to Zero and says, "Good job keeping the bleeding under control." She glances at the boy's face before she mutters under her breath, "Ishihara-kun, isn't it?"

Izumi starts wrapping the bandages around the area as she calls out, "Honda. He's blood type A."

Zero watches as Honda, a man in his early twenties in light green scrubs, push up his round glasses as he digs through the container and pulls out a blood bag. He quickly slips in an IV into Ishihara's arm as he keeps the blood bag steady.

Izumi frowns as she peers at the wound at his neck. "How long until the ambulance comes?"

"Two minutes!"

She nods and applies pressure to the neck injury. "Kiryu-kun, is it? How long has it been since you found him?"

Zero looks at her and says, "Ten minutes. But he was already like this when we got here."

Izumi frowns again. "Ok. His heartbeat isn't as strong as I would like to be."

At that, the girl darts forward, away from Yuki, and tugs at Izumi's sleeve, eyes panicked. "But he's fine right? Please tell me he'll be ok."

Izumi glances at her, eyes roving over the girl's injuries. She remarks, "Hayami, correct?" The girl nods, and she continues, "Are there any injuries that are bothering you right now?"

Before Hayami can answer, someone suddenly demands, "Girl, step away from the boy."

Zero looks up to see a man pointing his gun towards them. He immediately straightens, hand already on his own weapon. His eyes narrow.

Isn't he a hunter?

Zero's gaze slides to the right of the hunter where an older man is standing and looking down at the scene with a heavy frown…Could that be the new president?

Yuki suddenly steps in front of the girl and spreads her arms out to stop the hunter, eyes determined. "She didn't do anything!"

Zero grits his teeth. That idiot…

He quickly positions himself in front of Yuki and Hayami, subtly forcing them to take a step back. Zero tenses, hand still on the Bloody Rose just in case, as he stares unflinchingly back at the hunter.

The hunter furrows his eyebrows, his blue-green eyes flicking over their uniforms. "Are you two the prefects then?"

Zero is about to answer when his instincts suddenly flare. Vampires. Heading their way.

He gazes warily ahead, beyond the two hunters, and sees what looks like three councilmembers coming closer.

Zero scowls. All that effort to keep Yuki away from the troublesome visitors today, and they all come waltzing over here. What the hell are Cross and Kaname even doing?

He narrows his eyes as he notices the torn clothing and injuries on all of them. His mind flashes back to the loud noise from earlier.

Was there an accident or something? What the heck happened out there?

One of the council members, a man with curly dark hair, narrows his eyes at the scene. He walks straight up to the hunter and his hand darts out to grip the gun in place. He demands darkly, "Lower that weapon."

The hunter lifts an eyebrow and he glares coldly back at the man.

Zero can practically feel the animosity crackling dangerously between the two. Shit, are these two actually going to fight?

Before anyone can do anything, a young woman suddenly pushes through them with wide eyes and short, wavy ash brown hair. "Please move aside!" She barely glances back at the two men that she just interrupted and instead glances towards the girl who is still kneeling down next to Izumi. "Are you ok?"

Izumi looks pensive as she has her fingers still over Ishihara's wrist. "Honda. How's the bleeding on the stomach?"

Honda, still holding the blood bag upright in one hand, immediately checks the bandages. "Good."

Izumi nods as she continues to apply pressure on the neck wound. "Fukui."

"Yes!"

"Prepare the oxygen mask." Izumi pauses and finally takes in the sudden crowd around the students. She scowls and orders sharply, "Anyone who is not injured get the fuck out of my sight."

Zero wisely notes the irritation in her tone and reaches out to tug at Yuki and the girl. The girl blinks and opens her mouth to protest until he nods towards the nurse. Yuki understands his message and gently pulls the girl aside and says quietly, "We should let them do their job."

The girls bites her lips and after glancing again at Ishihara, she reluctantly nods and steps back with Yuki. When everyone else refuses to back away though, Zero catches the sudden narrowing of deep blue eyes and the bright gleam of metal flashing in the air.

Everyone blinks at the two scalpels thrown precisely in between both the hunter and the councilman's feet. Izumi readjusts the cloth and emphasizes with a dangerous lilt in her voice. "Now."

Zero raises an eyebrow, impressed by the woman's fearlessness.

The other two apparently think the same because after exchanging another glare, the hunter lowers down the weapon and returns back to the side of the president and the councilman steps back towards the others.

Zero relaxes slightly. He doesn't know what the hell he would have done if a fight did break out.

"EMS coming through!"

There is a creak of metal and the sound of wheels thudding over the sandy, uneven surface of the walkway before two men in blue and white striped jackets come into view. They are running towards them and pulling a gurney forwards. Seeing the student lying on the ground, the men come and immediately kneel down as Izumi quickly informs them of Ishihara's vitals and condition.

Zero stares, unwillingly fascinated by the efficiency of the two technicians as they carefully lift Ishihara's body onto the gurney.

"Are you all alright?"

Zero blinks and turns around to see Cross appearing next to him with Kaname as well. He furrows his eyebrows. He should be the one asking that question.

Both Cross and Kaname have injuries that are similar to the ones he noticed on the others. Zero frowns. Seriously, what the hell happened out there?

His eyes flick over Kaname's face. There are gashes and cuts along his arms and his legs, but Zero can see that they are already healing. Still, the sight of the blood stained and ripped clothing isn't exactly reassuring to look at.

He suddenly stills as a sudden thought emerges. That pain that he felt from earlier…could it be…

Zero widens his eyes. Kaname looks questioningly at whatever expression he must be making now. Zero swallows and shakes his head slightly. Definitely not the time or place to be talking to Kaname about this.

Besides him, Zero feels Yuki freezing in alarm at the sight of Cross and Kaname. She inhales sharply and asks in shock, "W-what happened to you two?"

Cross smiles reassuringly at her and says lightly, "An accident of sorts. We're all fine though, Yuki."

Zero can see Kaname tensing slightly at the answer though, so clearly that is an understatement. Yuki realizes it too because she looks warily at Cross.

Cross grins then and says teasingly, "Oh? Is this concern I see for your dear papa?" He looks at Zero and continues blithely, "Zero, aren't you going to ask about my health and well-being too-"

Zero looks flatly at him, partly incredulous that Cross can joke at a time like this but mostly exasperated at the man's antics. He interrupts, "Didn't you say you were just fine, chairman?"

Cross widens his eyes in mock hurt, but before he can start lamenting on Zero's cruel treatment, Izumi strides past them, brushing shoulders with Cross.

She orders, white coat flying out behind her like a war banner as she hurries after the EMTs. "Oi. I'm coming along with them. So no one else better get injured while I'm gone, understood?"

Izumi sighs and then adds, all without breaking a stride. "And all you idiots remember to stop by the infirmary after this is all done."

Cross smiles them, amused at her attitude, and answers, "Of course, Izumi-san."

Not looking back, Izumi waves a hand in the air as she calls out, "Honda! You're in charge of the infirmary."

"Yes!" Honda turns towards Hayami, taking in her trembling and injuries, and says calmly, "Please follow me."

Hayami looks hesitant, but after Yuki nods in agreement, she silently nods.

Zero frowns as the hunter from earlier steps forward and blocks Honda. "Hold on a minute. We have questions for that girl."

The councilman scowls and steps forward. "We will not accept that request. You hunters do not have the right to interrogate the poor girl."

"That does not matter. A human was injured, and a vampire was on scene."

Honda interrupts them as he says politely but firmly, "I am sorry. I cannot. She is injured. The health of the patient comes first."

Fukui glances hesitantly towards Cross with a question in her light gray eyes. "Cross-san."

Cross smiles kindly at them and announces approvingly, "Well said, Honda-kun. After all, she is a student and in need of medical care. Anything else can wait." He gestures towards the main building and steps to the side. "Honda-kun, please proceed."

There is a warning hint despite his pleasant tone, and no one comes forward to challenge him.

Cross hums before turning to face all of them with a sharp gleam in his eyes even as he says smilingly, "As for everyone else, please come to my office. We can discuss things there."

---

Kaname frowns slightly as he steps into Cross's office. His gaze immediately slides to Yuki who is fidgeting a little nervously.

He is not happy.

He wanted any attention to be deflected away from Yuki, and somehow the events today have reflected it back towards her. The council members are more occupied with the hunters right now, but the rising tension in the room is not anything to be thankful for either.

Kaname glances at Zero who is standing next to her. There is blood staining his shirt, which he assumes is from the two students. Zero has his usual scowl in place until he seems to notice Kaname's gaze. Zero looks up at him then, lilac eyes roving Kaname's face briefly before another disconcerted expression crosses his features.

Zero's reaction alarms Kaname, but he maintains his composure. He can ask Zero about it later. There are other things he needs to focus on right now, such as…

His eyes flick over to where the president and Ichijo are standing tensely, facing each other in front of Cross's desk. It quite honestly is a stalemate, and Cross's office is too small to house the unspoken accusations and suspicions between the two.

Cross looks over both of them tiredly before he gestures to the armchairs in front of the desk as well as the two sofas facing the coffee table in the center of the room. "Everyone, please take a seat."

No one does.

Cross sighs then and decides not to press it. A serious expression settles over his features as he glances over Zero and Yuki standing to his side. Cross asks patiently, "Zero, Yuki. Would you please tell me what exactly happened?"

Yuki glances back at Zero before she turns back to face Cross. She says hesitantly, "We heard a scream when we were patrolling in the gardens. And when we got there, Hayami-san was kneeling down over Ishihara-san."

The man next to the president, Ryou if Kaname can recall correctly, scoffs derisively. "Is an investigation even needed here then?"

With those words, Kaname can feel the tension crackling dangerously in the air, a spark of electricity waiting to be discharged.

Yuki widens her eyes and protests, "No! She was just trying to stop him from bleeding."

Her declaration rings out in the air. Everyone turns to look at her, and Kaname reflexively tenses at that. Zero also stiffens next to Yuki, and his eyes sharpen in alertness. Yuki blinks, clearly uncomfortable with the sudden attention, before determination shines in her eyes and she says more firmly, "Hayami-san did not hurt him. She was panicking when she saw that Ishihara-san was injured."

Ryou raises an eyebrow and says unconvinced, "That is naïve of you. How can you be certain that she did not do that because she saw you coming?"

Himura speaks up, voice cold. "That is a baseless accusation, hunter."

"Is it?"

Himura looks sharply at him and demands, "Do you have proof?"

Cross clears his throat before either of them can argue any further and says calmly, "Gentleman, please." He nods towards Yuki and gives her an encouraging smile. "Yuki-chan, please continue."

Yuki bites her lips before she continues, "Zero and I helped her to stop the bleeding."

The president asks in a level voice, "Did the girl say anything?"

Yuki immediately looks uneasy as she falters, "She um-"

Zero interrupts then, a stony expression on his face, as he recounts tersely, "She said she woke up in the garden and the first thing she saw was Ishihara lying next to her bleeding. The rest is what you all saw."

Ichijo speaks up then, voice measured and warning. "It does not matter what she says. Anyone after such an event, would be disoriented, and I advise you all to refrain from making any conclusions before the girl can provide a more coherent account."

"Are you playing us for a fool?" Ryou says with a disdainful glare towards Ichijo.

Takenaka raises a hand to calm Ryou down as he gauges Ichijo and asks. "Would that account be made under your supervision?"

Ichijo narrows his eyes and responds frigidly, "Of course. She is a minor."

The president frowns and asserts firmly, "Then I refuse to accept such an account. The Hunters' Association will carry out their own investigation, with or without the council's interference. The circumstances are too suspicious, and they only confirm my previous concerns."

"Suspicious? The only thing suspicious that I see here is that the same hunter who murdered Shizuka-san is on the same scene," Hiruma retorts.

At that, Kaname gives Hiruma a stern look as he reproaches him, momentarily diverting everyone's attention as he does so, "Councilman, please."

Takenaka glances at Kaname curiously for a moment before he focuses on Ichijo again. "Are you now transferring the blame onto a hunter now? One who performed only his duty?"

Hiruma answers him instead, irritation creasing his face. "I'm starting to have an issue with what you hunters are defining as duty."

"And we have an issue with your principles in general," Ryou challenges with another condescending glare towards Hiruma.

Cross clears his throat and smiles placidly, but there is a slight edge to his tone now as he says, "Now I know you two are very energetic, but please let's keep this conversation civil."

He stares straight at the president and Ichijo, hazel eyes unwavering and shrewd. "Two students of mine were injured, not to mention the sudden explosion near the main building. Thankfully, no one else was injured. I agree that this needs investigation, and the academy will cooperate fully."

"However," Cross gives both of them a meaningful look and continues, "I would like to remind everyone that all students here are to treated fairly and unbiased."

"At this point, are you in a position to say that?" Ryou remarks.

Cross smiles at that and says lightly, "Well, I am still the headmaster of the academy."

Before anyone can say anything else, the wooden doors swing open and Yagari, Kaito, and Seiren all step in. Seiren quietly makes her way straight to Kaname and stands next to him.

Yagari and Kaito on the other hand walk up to Cross's desk. Cross looks up at them and asks curiously, "Were you able to find out anything?"

Yagari's eyes flick to the president and Ichijo before he nods to Kaito who then pulls out some charred wires and some mangled pieces of metal. The items clang noisily onto the surface of the desk, drawing everyone's attention.

Yagari says gravely, "We think a bomb was placed underneath one of the two cars that was detonated. It most likely ignited the gasoline of the other car, causing the second explosion."

The implications of his statement hang ominously in the air. Kaname looks questioningly at Seiren, who nods silently in confirmation.

Detonated means that this was intentional. Someone deliberately set off the bomb.

Who would do such a thing? Kaname narrows his eyes. And more importantly, who was the bomb intended for?

"Whose car was it under?" Takenaka asks suddenly.

Yagari pauses. "I can't say for sure. Both cars are pretty mangled."

Everyone also stills and apprehension courses through the air like jagged lightning. It's unexpected. Kaname does not know what to make of this new development, and as he observes the president, nor does he know what to make of this man either.

The president only looks contemplatively at Cross's desk and murmurs, "I see."

He continues calmly, unshaken by the fact of his near assassination. "As I have said, it is imperative that a thorough investigation is needed."

Kaname does not know if that calmness is accredited to the man's experience and composure or it should be a reason for suspicion.

Kugamiya remarks in a wary tone, "I agree as well. An investigation is needed for both incidents." She gives Takenaka a sidelong glance. "Although as for the one concerning the two students, I do hope that by thorough, the association means to investigate the matter fairly."

"Fairly? The girl wasn't the one with critical injuries. Furthermore, it is still unknown if these two incidents are unrelated," Ryou comments sharply.

"Unrelated?" Himura remarks condescendingly, "Is it not enough you are blaming an already traumatized girl for something you haven't even investigated? And now you're accusing her of planting the bomb too?"

He smirks. "My, I've never realized what vivid imaginations you hunters must have. Is that how you cope with your own incompetence?"

Ryou stands up and says scathingly. "Shut your mouth, leech. Is self-denial how you come to terms with your depravity?"

Himura narrows his eyes and demands, "What did you just say to me? I dare you to repea-"

"I suggest we agree to a joint investigation. How about it, President Takenaka?" Ichijo announces with a level voice and an unreadable expression. Himura widens his eyes, but at Ichijo's warning glance, he backs down and stays silent with a grim frown.

Kaname can already tell that Ichijo has already found a way to twist this situation to his advantage.

Takenaka raises an eyebrow and asks, "Joint investigation?"

Ichijo remarks, "This matter clearly involves both sides and I am certain everyone is concerned over this. The safety of the students is the top priority." He purposefully looks at Cross and raises an eyebrow. "Isn't that right, Cross-san? Would it not be more efficient then to cooperate than to bicker needlessly?"

Cross pauses and stays silent with a pensive look. Ichijo turns back towards Takenaka and asks deliberately, "Or do you have a reason as to not work together?"

"No. A joint investigation is fine."

There are varying expression of surprise on everyone's face at Takenaka's easy acceptance. Even Kaname is admittedly surprised. If Ichijo is caught off guard by it, then he conceals it rather well by nodding in silent agreement.

Takenaka turns towards Cross and says, "However, Cross-san, about the security concerns we talked about earlier, I would like to re-discuss them."

Kaname inwardly frowns. The wording and declaration is clearly deliberate. The president came to discuss those terms with Cross discreetly and to bring them up again purposefully in front of everyone now is both alarming and suspicious.

"Re-discuss them?" Hiruma echoes in surprise.

Takenaka ignores him and continues, "I would like to assign more hunters to the school."

Kaname frowns. He recognizes this for what it is. This is subtle provocation. His eyes flick back towards the president. He already has an idea of what the president is aiming for, and it is not anything auspicious.

"Assign more hunters?" Hiruma repeats again.

Kugamiya looks exasperated at Hiruma and comments dryly, "Hiruma, I can hear just fine. Refrain from unnecessarily providing us an echo." She then looks towards Cross and says, voice sharp with dissatisfaction. "Cross-san, you approved of this?"

Cross blinks, a little caught off guard by the sudden turn of the conversation. "I-"

"That is fine."

Startled, Kugamiya swivels her head to look at Ichijo. "Ichijo-san."

Ichijo pays her no mind and continues, "This has excellent timing, in fact."

"Oh?" Takenaka asks, slight curiosity in his tone.

"I was deliberating over assigning some members to the school due to the aftermath of recent events. We are as alarmed as you are, but I didn't think it would be a wise to have such a heavy vampire presence in the school."

"However, if the hunters are also sending their own men…"Ichijo stares back at Takenaka, a challenging gleam in his icy blue eyes. "Well then, doesn't this help keep the balance then?"

Kaname frowns, irritated at the game these two are now playing. They are deliberately prodding and provoking each other for excuses to justify their so called 'countermeasures' that are nothing more than their own personal agendas.

This conversation is a farce. These two only want to harvest the golden opportunities from this situation.

Kaname is not amused by this. It does not matter that these two are aiming for very different goals. All actions have consequences, and these two are gambling with something they do not understand the true dangers of.

He won't let everything he has been working towards be endangered because of these two.

Kaname speaks up, voice firm with disapproval, "I have to object to that. Is such a measure necessary? From both sides even?"

Ichijo looks at him and says in a deliberately accommodating tone, "Kuran-sama. Unfortunately, this is no longer an issue that you can mitigate. I am sure you have your duties to juggle as the Dorm President. It would be rude of us to place the safety of the entire Night Class on your shoulders."

Cross clears his throat then and frowns. His voice is uncharacteristically austere and displeased. "I have to say, I agree with Kaname-kun."

Takenaka looks at Cross, eyes wary now. "Cross-san."

Cross continues, resolute and unyielding. "Although I accepted the previous condition of adding two hunters, I only did so in light of current events. If the both of you suddenly send people out to patrol out on campus, then it will foster an uneasy environment. With such a heavily armed presence, what would I say to the students?"

Takenaka offers calmly, "They will understand if it is for their own good. I will be discreet, if that is your worry. My men will simply help with patrols and aid with investigation."

"We will also be discreet," Kugamiya confirms.

Cross pauses, unhappy at their insistence. He looks at them for a long moment before finally stating, "I reserve the right to remove any individual who causes a disturbance or acts in such a way that is detrimental to the activities of this academy."

Takenaka nods. "We agree to those terms."

"We do as well," Ichijo says smoothly. After a pause, he continues, "We look forward to your cooperation then."

Takenaka glances at Ichijo. "As do we." He moves towards the door and Ryou follows briskly after him.

The council members also move to start walking out the door. Ichijo pauses before passing by Kaname and says, "Kuran-sama, I'm afraid we will have to inconvenience you. It seems like we will be coordinating with you more in the future. I trust you will cooperate accordingly?"

Kaname inwardly frowns at his own words parroted back at him, but he only says loftily, "Of course."

---

Hiruma frowns as they make their way towards the entrance once more. "I dislike that new president."

Ichijo finally scowls. The metal gate of the school, or at least what is left of it, slams behind them, the sharp clink of metal grating and shrill in the air. It does nothing to quell his irritation.

The council will definitely have its hands full with that new president. And all that work he did to manipulate the former one too. The arrangement they had was mutually beneficial, advantageous for him even.

Careless. He was too careless with this. How could he have been so blindsided?

He demands tersely, "What do we know of their latest developments?"

Kugamiya says bluntly, "As of now, next to nothing."

Ichijo narrows his eyes and glances back at her. His voice is sharp as he reprimands her, "Kugamiya."

Kugamiya lifts a slim eyebrow and remarks nonchalantly, "You redirected our surveillance towards the academy, Ichijo-san. The council knew nothing of the change of leaders in the hunter's association."

Displeasure simmers in her bright teal eyes as she adds deliberately, "Which is a rather unacceptable oversight."

Ichijo's face tightens and he says warningly, "What are you insinuating?"

Kugamiya does not waver - it's a habit of hers he has always disliked – and merely returns his glare with a meaningful stare of her own. "We gained nothing from this meeting. I have to say, Kuran-san raised a few valid points today. Your obsession with purebloods is getting out of hand."

Ichijo narrows his eyes as he states condescendingly, "You are a fool if you think we can rest our fates in the hands of a pureblood like him."

At that, Kugamiya's lips curve in a brief amused smile before she drawls, "Of course not. But the new hunter president is a more urgent problem. In times like these, we need the head of the council to be focused and level-headed, now don't we?"

Himura speaks up then – the useless idiot- as his eyes flick tiredly from Kugamiya to Ichijo. "I have to agree, Ichijo-san. What are we going to do regarding the president and the girl?"

Ichijo frowns again before he orders, "I want an investigation done on that new president as soon as possible. Find out what happened to the former one as well." He walks up to the new car that pulls in by the curb and waves away the driver's proffered help with an irritated hand before getting in. "As for the girl, we will offer her protection. The council will act as her representative, as I said before."

Kugamiya answers, more satisfied now, as she gets into the car as well. "I understand. I will contact her family to withdraw her from the school."

Ichijo adds curtly, "Increase surveillance on the hunter association as well. And investigate both the girl's incident and the bomb."

"You think that was directed at us?" Himura asks, a note of incredulity in his voice.

Ichijo frowns and gives him a stern glare. "We were in the cross-hairs, weren't we?" He flings the document – mark his words, when he gets back, he'll find the insubordinate fool who gave Kuran this - carelessly on the seat.

His voice deepens with a dangerous edge. "If this turns out to be some reckless strategy from the hunters, we the council will take the appropriate countermeasures."

Himura stills at that for a moment before he smirks. "Of course, Ichijo-san."

---

Takenaka flips through the files in the back of the new car that Ryou had called headquarters to send. Ryou glances at him, "President. Is this incident within your calculations?"

Takenaka nods as he closes the folder in his lap. "It is, but investigate it thoroughly. I want to know if the student incident and the bomb are connected and who the culprits are."

Ryou nods. "Yes, sir." He pauses before continuing, "And if it points to him?"

Takenaka smiles slightly. "Then this plays perfectly in our hands." His voice grows stern as he reminds Ryou, "If not, intervention from other third parties will not be tolerated."

"Of course."

Takenaka leans back into the seat and gazes contemplatively out the window. "Make no mistakes with this, Ryou. We must use this opportunity to its fullest advantage."

"I understand, president."

---

Cross gazes pensively at the door before he sighs and murmurs, "My, my, when did the academy become so popular?"

He stands up and Yuki blinks, "Chairman, where are you going?" She glances at his injuries with a frown. "You should head to the infirmary soon."

Cross smiles, eyes bright again, and says cheerfully, "That is where I am going now, Yuki."

Yuki blinks in surprise. Cross turns to Yagari and Kaito. He tilts his head as he surveys them thoughtfully, "You two should come with me."

Yagari frowns. "It's fine. We need to go now actu - Oi, where the hell are you pulling me?"

"Now, now. Do you want to be bleeding all over my carpets?" Cross quips as he reaches out and pulls Yagari to the door.

"Are you concerned about your carpets or us, Cross-san?" Kaito comments dryly.

Cross hums. "Both."

Yagari elbows him in the abdomen and says tiredly, "I can get there myself without you dragging me all over the place."

Cross immediately winces from the jab. Then, in a very obvious dramatization, he suddenly staggers back against Yagari and moans in pain, forcing Yagari to prop him up out of reflex. Yagari glares at him and hisses, "What the hell are you doing?"

"I can't walk! You're so cruel. I'm already injured, and here you are insensitively hitting me."

Yagari furrows his eyebrows and stares disbelievingly at Cross. "Get up. Do you hear me? Get up, you idiot. I'm not going to drag your dead weight around."

Cross only collapses even further in deliberation. Yagari growls, "Are you listening to me?"

Cross pays him no mind and looks towards Yuki, Kaname, Seiren, and Zero. "And what about you three? Do you need to go to the infirmary with us?"

Zero raises an eyebrow at the scene and thinks maybe the place Cross needs to go to is not the infirmary, but the mental asylum.

Yuki offers, "I'll go! I want to see Hayami-san."

Cross smiles at her and says lightly, "I'm sure she would like that."

Yuki nods but then pauses and glances worriedly at Kaname and then at Seiren. "Kaname-senpai, shouldn't you go as well?"

At that, Kaname feels Zero's glance landing on him as well. He smiles reassuringly at Yuki, "I'm fine." When she only stares at him, still unconvinced, Kaname offers, "Truly, I'm fine. If I feel unwell, I'll go to the infirmary."

Yuki hesitates and starts slowly, "Alright." Her eyes flick questioningly to Seiren. "What about Seiren-san?"

Seiren says immediately, "I am fine."

Kaname turns and appraises Seiren's wounds for a moment before he says, "Perhaps you should go to the infirmary, Seiren." Before she could protest, he continues, "You should go, if only to make sure that everything is fine." He gives her a meaningful glance. "Blood loss can be dangerous."

Seiren pauses at that as she registers the implications in his statement. However, she frowns slightly and says calmly, "It would be neglectful of me to let you walk alone, Kaname-sama. Especially after today. I can attend to my own injuries afterwards."

Kaname is about to order for her to go to the infirmary when Zero speaks up, "He'll be fine." Kaname glances at him curiously and Zero looks briefly back at him before he continues to Seiren, "I need to talk to him about something."

Zero shrugs. "I can take him back after if you're that concerned. Although, I'm pretty sure he doesn't need to."

Seiren stares at him blankly, and Zero notices that everyone else besides Kaname, who looks rather amused now, is staring at him with the same bewildered expression. He immediately frowns and glares back at them, uncomfortable at the sudden scrutiny. "Why are you all looking at me now?"

Cross widens his eyes comically. "Toga, I think I'm hallucinating."

Zero's eye twitches. Forget the mental asylum. Cross is beyond any help.

Yagari stares down at Cross in growing irritation and says flatly, "So am I. I have this goddamned luggage that keeps on blathering and refuses to move."

Yuki covers her mouth, but Zero can still hear the giggle that slips out.

Which would be fine and all if she was staring at Cross and not him.

He furrows his eyebrows and gives her a pointed look, but Yuki only grins, eyes sparkling with definite amusement. Zero scowls.

Are the events of today catching up to everyone or something?

Because there is still a fine line between being shocked or stressed and full blown derangement, and they are all really testing that boundary today. At this rate, the asylum is going to reach full capacity soon.

Zero looks towards Yagari, annoyed at the way Cross is still looking at him, and says dryly, "Yagari-sensei, you should go the infirmary soon. I think the chairman hit his head."

Yagari frowns at that and mutters, "If only he had that excuse." He looks up in irritation and snaps, "And I'm trying kid, or do you not see this ball and chain?"

"How rude, Toga," Cross remarks, even as he still stubbornly leans back and slumps against Yagari, who has to push against him to keep him from sliding down to the floor, much to Yagari's exasperation.

Kaito deliberately drawls as he squeezes past them through the doorway, "He has a point. I don't know how I feel about having a sensei who's so insensitive."

Yagari scowls. "You little hypocritica – Cross, get the hell off of me or I'll send you straight to the hospital! Never mind the infirmary!"

"…You're quite violet today, Toga."

Kaito calls out from just outside the door, "I agree."

Yagari takes in a deep, angry short breath before he lets go of Cross, much to Cross's surprise. Cross yelps and falls rather ungracefully down to the floor. "Toga!"

"Should have done that earlier," Yagari grumbles as he steps over Cross and stalks out the door. Kaito snickers and Yagari reaches out to smack him in the head as well.

"Oi! Sensei, you-"

"This is assault! Abuse! How could you just leave an injured person like this on the floor? This is cruel and arbitrary punishment! Heartless!" Cross dramatically objects as he sits up on the carpet. "What did I do to deserve this?"

Yagari's voice echoes down the hallway as he yells, "Stop whining and get up already!" There are footsteps after him and Zero can hear Kaito grumbling in irritation.

Yuki laughs again behind her hand. She walks up to Cross and offers him her hand. "I'll help you up, Chairman."

Cross immediately goes on another tangent about how in the end, Yuki is the only one to care about him because Toga clearly has anger management issues, Zero is too much of a tsundere for him to have emotional support from, and ah, isn't it difficult to be him?

Zero stares flatly at Cross, eye twitching again. Kaname only raises an eyebrow at the scene and just takes it as another facet of Cross's...eccentricity.

Yuki stifles another giggle before she glances at Seiren. "Shall we go, Seiren-san?"

Seiren glances again at Kaname for confirmation. He nods. She frowns again but dutifully follows after Yuki, although not without giving Zero another curious, assessing look as she passes him.

Yuki waves a hand as she calls out, "You guys remember to be careful!"

The doors swing shut just as she finishes and closes with a soft thud. Kaname sighs. The silence in the room is both a comforting change and a very present reminder of his own exhaustion. He turns towards Zero. "What did you want to talk about, Zero?"

Zero doesn't really hear him. Things are still and quiet for once today, and Zero is finally able to see the full extent of Kaname's injuries clearly. His eyes rove over Kaname.

The cuts and scrapes peeking through the rips and tears of fabric are already healing, the wounds already closing up to leave patches of light pink skin. Zero thinks that by tomorrow, the scars will most likely be unnoticeable if not gone altogether.

"You guys all look like you escaped an apocalypse." He comments distractedly as his eyes flick to the healing scrape on Kaname's shoulder, exposed through the ripped blazer and shirt there. "Who do you think that bomb meant for?"

Kaname wonders vaguely just how disheveled he looks right now for Zero to stare at him so fixatedly. He sighs and says tiredly, "I have no idea, Zero. The council and the president were both there. Not to mention the chairman."

All of whom would be considered high profile targets. Everyone is pointing their fingers at each other, but all Kaname sees is that this is a catastrophe. Suspicions and illicit schemes have cast their shadow over the board, and Kaname can't distinguish the players from the pawns anymore.

The bomb, the incident with two students, the sudden appearance of a new president…

The spiders have cast their webs, the sticky, needle thin strings crisscrossing every which way that his temples throb at the thought of having to unravel them.

God, there are far too many suspects, variables and not nearly enough time for him to strategize.

Kaname inwardly sighs, already daunted by the amount of work and negotiations he can already foresee accumulating in the next few weeks.

Zero sees the exhaustion shadowing Kaname's eyes, takes in the troubled frown, and says quietly, "And you. You were there too."

Kaname blinks then, seemingly interrupted from whatever he was thinking. He looks searchingly at Zero, and then his expression unconsciously softens. "I'm fine, Zero."

Zero only frowns and stays silent. The events of today swirl through his mind, fragmented images and colors. Something like that went off so close to so many people today…Cross…Yagari-sensei…Kaito…and…

Zero's eyes flick over Kaname's injuries again. The sight of them makes him feel uneasy. They remind him of how easily things could have all gone to hell today. He swallows.

Kaname watches the expression that flits through Zero's eyes and remembers the disconcerted look from before, both in the garden and the room. Do…do his injuries look that severe?

Zero doesn't see Kaname's questioning gaze though. His eyes stop on an ashy streak down the left side of Kaname's temple. There is an impressive bruise there, green and blue speckles mottling the skin and already fading out into light yellow on the edges.

The image persists in his vision, and Zero can't tear his eyes away from either the smudge or the bruise.

It stands out so conspicuously against Kaname's fair skin, and the gray streak only makes it glaring in its obviousness.

It bothers him. He doesn't even understand why it does, but the irritation is there all the same, scratching at him under his skin, raw and insistent. His fingers twitch and he frowns again.

At Zero's silence and oddly fixated stare, Kaname asks, a little concerned, "Zero?"

He stills when Zero suddenly steps closer and reaches out with his fingers to rub off the ash. They barely skim the surface of his skin, brushing lightly and cautiously, the touch gentle and warm.

He watches Zero silently, mesmerized by the strangely focused look in Zero's clear lavender eyes, by the way those eyelashes flutter down at times, casting shadows over the curve of his cheeks.

The moment feels as delicate as the touch itself and Kaname can't bring himself to disrupt it. He holds his breath.

Zero still doesn't say anything though, and Kaname wonders if Zero even realizes what he is doing. He gazes curiously at Zero, but Zero's eyes are already flicking somewhere else.

Zero's eyebrows furrow, and suddenly those fingers drop down to his shoulder and graze the sore skin there. Zero frowns and observes, a disgruntled note in his tone. "There's still glass."

It sounds more like Zero talking to himself than anything, but there's a lecturing tone to his words that has Kaname gazing down at Zero with a small smile. Zero pays him no mind – He hasn't really looked at Kaname so much as looking at his injuries – and methodically plucks out the slivers of glass out from the healing scrape with careful fingers.

The unexpected tenderness of those fingers fascinates Kaname.

Zero frowns again as he registers how the skin flushes a darker raw pink than Kaname's other injuries. He asks absentmindedly, "Does it hurt?"

Kaname watches Zero, taken back by what he's starting to realize is concern in Zero's eyes, as he says quietly, "Not much."

At the sound of Kaname's voice, Zero suddenly stiffens and lifts his head up, eyes widening in realization. Kaname is once again struck by how open and expressive those lilac eyes are.

Zero jerks his fingers back. He clears his throat, discomforted, and mumbles, "Sorry. I-I wasn't thinking."

Kaname's eyes trace the faint flush of color on Zero's cheeks before he murmurs softly, "It's fine."

Zero looks at him hesitantly before he nods soundlessly. He shifts uneasily, and it's easy to see that Zero is still embarrassed over his actions. His fingers curl and uncurl restlessly at his side, and Kaname suddenly has the strangest urge to catch those slender fingers and smooth them out, keep them still and relaxed.

The sudden image dances through his head and Kaname pauses at the peculiarity of it.

Zero, on the other hand, is in the middle of an internal tirade where he's lecturing himself on the merits of doing things without thinking - there are none - like say, touching someone's face – because seriously? What is he doing?

Kaname finally questions, "Zero? Are you…alright?"

Zero freezes at that, cheeks darkening just a tad more. And Kaname winces slightly at the way his question comes out. Before he can rephrase, Zero looks off to the side, arms crossed in front of him, as he admits, "I felt it."

Kaname raises an eyebrow, not understanding the answer. "Feel what exactly?"

Zero bites his lips and says quietly, "When the explosion happened, I felt the bond."

Kaname pauses as the implications of Zero's statements rush through his mind. As in…as in how?

Kaname stops as a sudden thought strikes him. He looks quickly towards Zero and asks, slightly alarmed, "You didn't feel what I was feeling, did you?"

Zero pauses at that, eyes snapping back to Kaname. He narrows his eyes in suspicion and accuses sharply, "You said that you're fine."

Kaname blinks at that unexpected reaction. Zero already looks like he might drag Kaname down to the infirmary, so he says quickly, "I am."

At Zero's deeply unconvinced stare, Kaname sighs and asks instead, "What did you mean when you said you could feel the bond?"

Zero looks at him warily again before he continues, "I didn't feel your pain exactly, if that's what you're asking, but…" He pauses and admits, "The bond didn't feel that great, either."

It really didn't. In fact, he's still not sure if that really wasn't a heart attack. But, Zero catches Kaname's eyes already flicking over him in obvious concern, and well, he sure as hell won't say that aloud.

Instead, Zero looks at him exasperated and complains, "I'm fine. Stop looking at me like that." He mutters under his breath, "You're the one who was standing right next to a bomb."

"I'm fine, Zero."

Zero restrains himself from rolling his eyes. 'I'm fine' is really not what a normal person should say after say, being near a bomb when it goes off and having a 100% chance of dying.

He inwardly sighs. Then again, nothing about them is normal – normal people would have needed immediate emergency attention - and the same could be said about the shit that happened today.

Damn, when did things gets so bat shit crazy?

He looks at Kaname and says rather tiredly, "Not if people are trying to kill you."

Kaname – of course - ignores him and presses, "Your neck doesn't hurt?"

Zero never noticed it before, but he does now: Kaname can be obstinate about the most annoying things. He shakes his head and grumbles, "I'm fine. Kaname. Between the two of us, I'm pretty sure I'm the one who has less injuries to worry about."

Or none, he silently adds. Kaname only looks at him before he sighs in acceptance.

There is a beat of silence before Kaname wonders aloud, "Is this normal?"

"You mean the part where people are blowing things up or the fact that students are being attacked out of the blue?" Zero says sarcastically. "Because I sure as hell hope not."

He mutters under his breath, "All of my goddamned sanity is going up in flames this week."

Kaname lifts an eyebrow, lips twitching upwards. Zero looks at him warily and says, "What?"

Kaname chuckles and comments, "I meant the part about you feeling the bond, Zero."

Zero pauses then and shrugs, "How would I know if this is normal or not?" He pauses, running over Kaname's question again. His eyes widen in growing alarm and he blurts out, "Wait, is this not normal? I thought – I thought it was because you were in danger or some shit."

Kaname stares at him for a moment and admits, "I have no idea." In response, Zero sends him a deeply frustrated glare. Kaname pauses and looks questioningly at him.

Zero frowns and asks unhappily, "What do you mean, you don't know?"

Kaname sighs. Haven't they already had this conversation? "Zero, you can't possibly expect me to have all the answers to this."

"You usually do," Zero grumbles. "In fact, I've never heard you admit to not knowing something this much before." He looks crossly at Kaname and continues, "It's surprisingly more irritating that you don't."

"I can see that," Kaname notes dryly, staring back at Zero flatly. "What do you want me to say, Zero? It is not like I have a multitude of experiences to draw from. You do know you are the only one I am bonded to like this, don't you?"

Zero looks away, cheeks warming slightly at the reminder, and complains, "You didn't have to say it so bluntly like that."

Kaname shrugs, unapologetic. It is the truth, after all. He is in the dark about this as much as Zero. The only thing they can do is see how things go and react then. It is not as if they have another choice, honestly.

Zero's words do bring up an important issue. He really doesn't know if Zero's reaction would be normal. He knows that bonds can induce someone to madness or even an excruciating emotional pain when their respective others happen to pass away before them. It is one of the reasons as to why bonds are so potent in the first place.

So relatively speaking, considering the events of today, Kaname supposes that Zero's reaction makes sense. But…for Zero to feel something like that already...doesn't that mean that this bond really is as permanent as they fear?

Zero sighs and leans against one of the armchairs. In the end, the bond is nothing but complicated. The whole thing makes him exhausted. He decides to change the subject and asks, "How did it go with the council?"

Kaname stills. Zero watches tension suddenly settling over Kaname's features, russet eyes darkening with discontent.

Zero blinks, surprised by the reaction. Clearly, it went as shitty as the rest of the day.

He glances at Kaname again. Is this something he shouldn't have asked?

Hesitant, Zero asks slowly, "That bad?"

There is a long beat of silence and Zero thinks that maybe he should drop the matter altogether.

Kaname's jaw clenches as he responds rather tightly, "I may have been a bit…forceful."

Zero gives Kaname a sidelong glance and takes in the slight frown, the sharpness in his eyes. He considers Kaname's words for a moment before he ventures warily, "You threatened them?"

Kaname stiffens, russet eyes narrowing in vexation at the memory of the conversation with the council. He says sharply. "If I did, it was because they didn't understand the consequences of their actions."

Zero blinks, taken aback by Kaname's rare anger. Kaname pauses, after realizing his tone, and takes a moment to recompose himself. He frowns and continues, "I…I apologize. Discussions with the council are rather tiring."

'Tiring' seems like an understatement. Zero can only imagine what those so called discussions are like, and honestly, facing a group of level E's would probably be less of a headache.

Zero stares at Kaname for another moment and comments offhandedly, "You know, you don't have to mince your words. It's not like I give a shit about whether you offend someone."

Kaname glances back at him, and he continues, curious as to what made Kaname lose his usual composure like that, "What did they want?"

Kaname pauses, tense again. Zero looks searchingly at him. It's not like Kaname to be so on edge – it makes him feel antsy as well - and Zero wonders briefly if this is going to be some shit that he would be better off not knowing.

"Kaname?" He glances at Kaname before shrugging. "It's fine. You don't have to answer if you don't want to."

He means it too. He senses that continuing this topic might be like triggering a landmine, and there has been enough explosive things for one day. Zero is about to change the topic when Kaname suddenly announces quietly, "You."

Zero blinks. "What?"

Kaname elaborates, voice grave with a hint of irritation. "They wanted you. They said that the one who killed Shizuka could not go unpunished."

Zero widens his eyes and Kaname gazes back at him, russet eyes steadfast and piercing in sudden seriousness.

Unpunished? His mind fumbles to catch all of Kaname's falling words. He isn't stupid. The implications aren't lost to him. He knows what the council wants, but it's Kaname's reaction that has him staggering than any half-assed death threat from a council.

Because Kaname is…irritated. Irritated at this, and that can't be right.

He stares uncomprehendingly at Kaname. Zero asks haltingly, "I…Is this something you should be threatening the council for?"

To his surprise, Kaname's expression tightens and there is a gleam of red in his eyes as he demands in a low voice, "What do you mean by that? You- Do you understand the type of punishment that the council wants to give to you? Your life isn't just something."

Kaname narrows his eyes and his voice hardens. "If you are still thinking like that, I am going to-"

"I didn't mean it like that," Zero interjects quickly, bewildered at the sudden turn in conversation, at the emotions he can see burning vividly in Kaname's eyes.

It…It surprises him to see Kaname angry, to see him angry over this, over the council's decision.

And how…how that night still bothers Kaname enough for it to be the first thing that Kaname thinks of. That Kaname isn't even using the bond as an excuse unnerves Zero more than he wants to admit.

Zero swallows and continues under Kaname's heavy gaze, "I just…You surprised me. I didn't expect you to be that bothered over it."

Even as he says it, Zero already knows that those are the wrong words to say. Kaname frowns and says in the same hard tone, "Again, I find issue with that statement."

"Kaname…"

"I am not going to let you suffer the consequences for my actions. I won't."

Zero catches his breath, heart skipping a beat. Stunned, he gazes at Kaname speechless.

The words echo in his ears, terrifyingly sincere and solemn in the air. Kaname says them so surely, so easily that Zero almost wants to shake him for it because it sounds so much like a declaration, a promise. And he didn't ask for it, didn't demand Kaname to take up this responsibility.

Zero swallows and says quietly, "Kaname." Kaname immediately stills at the tone, eyes flicking back to Zero's face in apprehension. "You…you aren't feeling guilty over – over what I did that night, are you?"

Kaname blinks, surprised at the abrupt question. Zero looks away from him and crosses his arms as he continues, "Because you don't have to. I'm not- I'm not holding it against you. I won't do anything stupid, you know. And I can take care of myself. "

"Zero, I -"

Zero speaks over him, voice hesitant. "Or is it because we're bonded? We're not automatically obligated towards each other. I don't expect you to -" He stops himself and instead says quietly, "You don't have to go out of your way to do things."

"I'm not."

Zero blinks and Kaname gazes straight at him and repeats clearly, "I'm not. I am not forcing myself to do anything." He continues, eyes burning in their solemnity. "I was the one who killed Shizuka, Zero. How could I let you take the fall for it?"

Zero bites his lips and looks away to say wryly, "That really isn't something you should be saying aloud right now."

Kaname frowns. The troubled expression on Zero's face bothers him immensely, even more so when he can't understand why Zero is so upset about this. Before Kaname registers the movement, he is already impulsively stepping closer, fingers reaching out to tug at Zero's forearm.

Zero blinks up at him in alarm. "Kaname? What are you -"

"You..." Kaname looks at Zero searchingly before he asks again, "Why do you think I'm forcing myself? Isn't this the right thing to do?"

Zero frowns and stays silent for a moment before he answers reluctantly, "No one is telling you that you have to be responsible for this. I just…" He shrugs and continues uncomfortably, "I just don't get it. You wouldn't have done this before."

A pained expression shadows Kaname's face and immediately has Zero swallowing hard. Kaname says quietly, "Do I seem that heartless to you?"

Something wrenches its way inside and Zero can feel his heartbeat beating unevenly, thrown off kilter by Kaname's words. Zero widens his eyes and he stares at Kaname alarmed. He struggles to speak - because that was not what he wanted to say, goddamn it - but Kaname is already continuing in that same achingly quiet tone, "I would. Even if we were not bonded, I would not let the council do that to you."

Kaname pauses and continues ruefully, "Maybe you're right. Maybe it is because of that bond, that night. Whatever you want to think." Kaname unconsciously tightens his grip and the pain does not even register to Zero. He can't seem to tear himself away from Kaname, from those words that Kaname doesn't need to say.

"But if I were to drive you back to that night again, I would not forgive myself."

Zero swallows hard. The words sear his skin as much as the expression burning in Kaname's dark eyes, the russet brown shifting mesmerizingly to gleams of red.

How - What is he supposed to say to that?

It overwhelms him. The colors and words spill through his head once more and god, he's so- so - he's at a complete loss.

He gazes up at Kaname helplessly. His hand unconsciously reaches up to clench at the lapel of the blazer and Zero feels Kaname still underneath his fingers. Zero swallows again and says in a half whisper, "You're overreacting, Kaname."

"Zero -"

"I get it, ok?" Zero says quietly before he lets go and pushes Kaname back lightly.

The response on Kaname's tongue dies and instead, he lets his hand drop down, eyes watching Zero carefully. Zero takes a step back and turns around. "We should go back now."

Kaname stares at Zero's back for a moment and wonders if he should press the issue. Zero glances back at him, eyes deepening to violet and brimming with an expression that Kaname can't place. He exhales slowly and concedes, "Alright."

---

A/N: Pfft, I'm looking at my clock right now, and it's already like 1 something in the morning. Really? Why? I'm not even publishing this on Saturday then. It's technically Sunday.

Hmm, am I updating this like once a month? Yup, it seems like it. Sorry guys! I've been taking my time with dealing with other things, and it's kinda nice to have something continuous that I can keep developing and distract myself on.

And yes, yes, I know. You're probably thinking that oi, Fridays aren't that crazy and apocalyptic. But hey, take a chem midterm followed by a biology one, and you tell me, if something doesn't explode, whether it be your grade in the class, your brain cells, etc. I feel like I sacrificed a significant part of my brain cells to my textbooks.

Anyways, for those of you who don't necessarily like OCs, don't you worry! Most of them won't come up that frequently or if at all again, with the exception of the president and Ryou and maybe the council members but even then, this is probably the most they'll ever speak. All in all, there definitely won't be another chapter that's like 80% OCs and 20% KaZe, which I know is what you all came here for.

I got you all covered! Yup. Yup. The next chapters will all be mostly concentrated on them. Er. Mostly. Like 90%.( I got a lot of plot bunnies, guys, and they don't all stay in the cage.)

Hopefully, I can update faster next time. I have some old chapters that I want to fit in, but they'll probably be the second or third one after the next. But I'm still excited. They're the more fluffier chapters, and I always have fun making these two adorable.

Hopefully, this was ok to read! I know there were a lot of different characters, a lot more drama/action sort of things, but hopefully, some of it made you guys laugh, aw, worry, or be excited for what's next!

As always, please comment/review/follow/favorite/ draw a smiley down below! X)

I do read them, so thank you for all of your kind and awesome comments! It makes my day whenever I see someone following, favoriting, or commenting how much they enjoyed the story this far. I really am relieved that you guys all loved that fangirl mob scene. That also made me laugh aloud when I was writing it. :D

I have to give a special shout out to Shiro-chan1827! Thank you for being so awesome and taking the time to leave me that note! Oh my god, I'm so embarrassed, You were completely right! I really did swap their first and last names. Which is completely ironic because I was looking at the references for their names, and i still somehow confused myself. (Facepalm.) It's because their last names are so short!

...Wait, what the hell am I talking about? My own last name is less than three letters. Sigh. (Double facepalm)

So about the whole honorifics things, I won't be following strict canon rules. I'm keeping Cross and Yagari the same regardless because it reflects the dynamics that I want to show. I also prefer Zero calling Yagari as Yagari-sensei because sensei rolls off nicer in my head.(Then again, things are weird in my head, so what do I know?) But that's what it is. I have Kaito also referring him as sensei because it felt odd to address him just by his last name. I don't think it was too OC because tone also matters. And hopefully, the sort of lazy, casual way in which Kaito says it whenever he is annoyed captures his personality.

As for, Kaname and Zero, haha, it was on purpose that I have them addressing them by their first names. I have them sort of using it when Zero yells at Kaname in that second chapter, or, er, don't quote me on that. I still need to proofread. Anyways, it's supposed to be sort of unintentional and they don't really refer to each other like that in front of the others. I'll have a character point that out to them, you'll see.

Also...I mean, who calls each other by their last names when you're bonded and slept together. Nope. You won't find that BS here. Uh uh.

Ok and really, it's because when I have chapters that are KaZe heavy, it gets confusing and choppy if I do that, especially because I like rotating POVs throughout the chapter and using third person.

...Many of you probably don't care for honorifics lol. But for those of you who do, please don't be afraid to correct me when I'm wrong. Even if I'm not following canon rules strictly, I still would like to know what they are so I can decide on which ones i want to follow.